Separasyon bagay ki di
Lèlène cheri pa konprann ke ap gen on chanjman
Ou se ti kè'm
Mwen pa sa kite'w
Kounye a se nan foto m'ap we'w
Lè swa m kouche
M pa sa domi
Map mande
Ki lè w'ap retounen?
Paske m'ap tann ou

San pran souf
Pou nou viv bon moman
M pa sa kite'w
Ou pa sa kite'm
Sa fè nou de zan
Youn pa karese lot
Li lè pou ou retounen lakay
Paske de pye'm pa kont

Lèlène Cheri
W'ale
Lèlène cheri w'ale nan New York City
Fo'w'pa bliye pou'w pa ekri paran'w yo
Yo di'm nan New York genyen anpil fredi
Ou gen manman'w
Ou gen papa'w
Ou gen ti se'w
Ou gen ma tante'w
Ou gen kouzin'w
Ou gen neve'w

Pa bliye pa bliye Lèlène

Se gwo zen Lèlène
Lèlène Cherie
Se gwo zen Lèlène
Lèlène Cherie

Nou soti New York
Lè'n soti New York

Nou pase Kanada
Lè'n soti Kanada

Nou pase Miami
Lè'n soti Miami

Nou pase a Paris
Lè'n soti a Paris

Nou pase la Guyane
Lè'n soti la Guyane

Nou pase Matinik
Lè'n soti Matinik

Nou pase Gwadloup
Lè'n soti Gwadloup

Nou pase Poto Riko
Lè'n soti Poto Riko

Nou tonbe Ayiti
Nou tonbe Ayiti

Nou rive lelanbi

Pa bliye pa bliye Lèlène

Se gwo zen

Ou renmen ti bef
Pou kisa ou renmen'l?
Ou genlè renmen ti bef
Pou kisa ou renmen'l

Renmen renmen renmen

Renmen ou renmen ti bef.
Ou renmen ti bef
Pou kisa ou renmen'l?
Ou genlè renmen ti bef
Pou kisa ou renmen'l

Tonnè kraze'm ou renmen'l

Renmen ou renmen ti bef.

Ou te pati'w pa't di'm
Mwen te pati an bref
Ou te pati'w pa't di'm

Pa bliye pa bliye Lèlène

Se gwo zen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shoogar Combo's song Lelene Cherie are about separation and the pain it causes. The singer is telling his lover that separation is something that is hard to face, but he cannot leave her. Even when he sleeps at night, he wakes up thinking of her and wondering when she will return. He cannot forget about her and he knows that they will have good times together. The chorus is repeating the name of the woman, Lelene Cherie, indicating the love and importance of the woman to the singer. The second verse talks about Lelene Cherie leaving for New York City and not forgetting her family in Haiti. The song continues to list the different places they have visited, but the singer still cannot forget about Lelene Cherie. The outro repeats the chorus, saying that Lelene Cherie is a great woman and that the singer loves her.

Line by Line Meaning

Separasyon bagay ki di
Separation is something that hurts

Lèlène cheri pa konprann ke ap gen on chanjman
My beloved Lelene doesn't understand there will be a change

Ou se ti kè'm
You are my sweetheart

Mwen pa sa kite'w
I won't leave you

Kounye a se nan foto m'ap we'w
Now I can only see you in a photo

Lè swa m kouche M pa sa domi Map mande
When I lie down at night, unable to sleep, I ask

Ki lè w'ap retounen?
When will you come back?

Paske m'ap tann ou San pran souf Pou nou viv bon moman
Because I'm waiting for you, holding my breath, so we can have good times

Ou pa sa kite'm Sa fè nou de zan Youn pa karese lot Li lè pou ou retounen lakay Paske de pye'm pa kont
You won't leave me. We've been together for two years, one cannot make it without the other. It will be time for you to come back home soon because my feet are tired.

Lèlène Cheri W'ale Lèlène cheri w'ale nan New York City Fo'w'pa bliye pou'w pa ekri paran'w yo Yo di'm nan New York genyen anpil fredi Ou gen manman'w Ou gen papa'w Ou gen ti se'w Ou gen ma tante'w Ou gen kouzin'w Ou gen neve'w
Lelene Cheri, you are leaving for New York City. Don't forget to write to your parents. They say it's very cold in New York. You have your mother, father, little sister, aunt, cousin, and nephew there.

Pa bliye pa bliye Lèlène Se gwo zen Lèlène Lèlène Cherie Se gwo zen Lèlène Lèlène Cherie
Don't forget, don't forget, Lelene. Lelene is a great person. Lelene Cherie is a great person.

Nou soti New York Lè'n soti New York Nou pase Kanada Lè'n soti Kanada Nou pase Miami Lè'n soti Miami Nou pase a Paris Lè'n soti a Paris Nou pase la Guyane Lè'n soti la Guyane Nou pase Matinik Lè'n soti Matinik Nou pase Gwadloup Lè'n soti Gwadloup Nou pase Poto Riko Lè'n soti Poto Riko Nou tonbe Ayiti Nou tonbe Ayiti Nou rive lelanbi
We went from New York to Canada, then to Miami, Paris, Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and finally arrived in Haiti.

Ou renmen ti bef Pou kisa ou renmen'l? Ou genlè renmen ti bef Pou kisa ou renmen'l Renmen renmen renmen
You love little beef. Why do you love it? You just love it. Love, love, love.

Tonnè kraze'm ou renmen'l Renmen ou renmen ti bef
Even if thunder strikes, you love your little beef. You love your little beef.

Ou te pati'w pa't di'm Mwen te pati an bref Ou te pati'w pa't di'm Pa bliye pa bliye Lèlène Se gwo zen
You left without telling me. I left quickly. You left without telling me. Don't forget, don't forget, Lelene is a great person.

Writer(s): Shoogar Combo

Contributed by Mia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.