Sweetest Darling

Country: The Philippines
Language: originally in Tagalog

Genre: Kundiman

Jocelynang Baliwag” (“Sweetest Darling”) is the Philippines’ most famous kundiman Spanish colonial-era romantic folk song). This song is from the late 19th century and was popular during the era of the Philippine independence movement. On the surface it’s a love song but in reality everyone understood the object of the songwriter’s longing to be the nation of the Philippines. Listen to this recording. The music starts 40 seconds in.

Original lyrics:

P- Pinopoong sinta, niring calolowa
Nacacawangis mo’y mabangong sampaga
Dalisay sa linis, dakila sa ganda
Matimyas na bucal ng madlang ligaya.

E- Edeng maligayang kinaloclocan Ng galak at tuwang catamis-tamisan
Hada cang maningning na ang matunghaya’y Masamyong bulaclac agad sumisical.

P- Pinananaligan niring aking dibdib Na sa paglalayag sa dagat ng sakit
‘Di mo babayaang malunod sa hapis
Sa pagcabagabag co’y icaw ang sasagip

I- Icaw na nga ang lunas sa aking dalita
Tanging magliligtas sa niluha-luha
Bunying binibining sinucuang cusa
Niring catawohang nangayupapa.

T- Tanggapin ang aking wagas na pag-ibig
Marubdob na ningas na taglay sa dibdib
Sa buhay na ito’y walang nilalangit

A- At sa cawacasa’y ang kapamanhikan Tumbasan mo yaring pagsintang dalisay
Alalahanin mong cung ‘di cahabagan Iyong lalasunin ang aba cong buhay.[/wpspoiler]

Lyrics of All Around This World’s version:

Sweetest darling who I love,
purest flower of delight

You have been the only one to give me hope in the dark of night
In the morning I adore you,
all day long my heart beats for you
Oh my darling who I love won’t you love me too?

Sweetest darling who I love,
won’t you ever love me
I will never leave you dear,
darling please believe me
For I’ve waited oh so long just to have you for my own
Oh my darling I love you one day you’ll love me too.

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