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Citi Soleil
Afghan Whigs Lyrics


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Jean Content
He wake up everyday
In a government yard
Deep down inside Citi Soleil
Roll some bones and catch a fire
Evil minds, they will conspire
The moon to lose its light
The stars sink into night
Across the town
A young girl plays guitar
"Do you remember me?" She sings to a lover
She worships from afar
Roll some bones and catch a fire
Evil minds, they will expire
The moon to shine a light
Upon us all tonight
Ooh child, I'll meet you, child
On the sunny side, it's alright, it's alright
No lies, and no cryin'
It's alright
"How you like me now?"
My friend, he say
"How you like the madness of Citi Soleil?"
Roll the bones and catch a fire
Join the triumph of the choir
Citi Soleil, Citi Soleil
I love to say Citi Soleil

Overall Meaning

In the opening verse of the song ‘Citi Soleil’ by Afghan Whigs, we are introduced to the character of Jean Content, who wakes up every day in a government yard located in Citi Soleil. Citi Soleil is a densely populated and impoverished neighbourhood located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Jean Content is depicted to be a habitual gambler who plays games of chance every morning by rolling some bones, which is slang for playing dice. The lyrics suggest that despite living in adverse conditions, Jean Content is content with his life and his pastime activity of gambling. However, there is a sense of foreboding and danger lurking in the air as the song states that "Evil minds, they will conspire. The moon to lose its light. The stars sink into night". These lines suggest that danger is ever-present in Citi Soleil, and any moment of peace and contentment can be disrupted at any time.


In the second verse of the song, we are introduced to a young girl who sings and plays the guitar. She is singing about a lover and asks if he remembers her, suggesting that she feels abandoned by him. The lyrics “Roll some bones and catch a fire. Evil minds, they will expire. The moon to shine a light. Upon us all tonight” from this verse mirror the first verse, suggesting again that although the circumstances may be different, the overarching theme of feeling lost, frightened, and trapped persists in Citi Soleil. Finally, the outro declares that they love to say Citi Soleil, revealing that despite its flaws, Citi Soleil is still loved.


Interesting facts about the song:


1) The song is named after a teeming slum area in Haiti, which is home to around 400,000 people.
2) Afghan Whigs lead singer Greg Dulli co-wrote “Citi Soleil” with multi-instrumentalist and composer Joseph Arthur.
3) The song features a sample from the classic reggae song "Chase the Devil" by Max Romeo.
4) “Citi Soleil” marked a change in direction for the band's sound, with its world music influence and distinct use of horns.
5) The music video for the song was directed by actor and musician Vincent Gallo.
6) “Citi Soleil” was the lead track on the album “Do to the Beast,” which was the band's first album in sixteen years.
7) The album debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart.
8) “Citi Soleil” was included in the NME’s list of the “50 Best Tracks of 2014”.
9) Critics praised the song for its emotive lyrics, distinct sound, and use of horn arrangements.
10) The song speaks to larger themes of poverty, violence, and resilience, making it a powerful commentary on life in Citi Soleil.


Chords: The chords for this song are not currently available.


Line by Line Meaning

Jean Content
The name of a person or a place related to the song.


He wake up everyday
Someone wakes up every day.


In a government yard
They wake up in a place controlled by the government.


Deep down inside Citi Soleil
The government yard is located in Citi Soleil, a poor neighborhood in Haiti.


Roll some bones and catch a fire
The person smokes marijuana.


Evil minds, they will conspire
There are people with bad intentions in Citi Soleil who plan to cause harm.


The moon to lose its light
Metaphor of a dark and tragic situation.


The stars sink into night
Metaphor of a hopeless situation.


Across the town
Refers to Citi Soleil.


A young girl plays guitar
A young girl expresses her hope and dreams through music.


"Do you remember me?" She sings to a lover
The girl sings to someone she loves and hopes to be remembered by them.


She worships from afar
The girl admires the person she sings to, but they are not close.


Evil minds, they will expire
The people with bad intentions will fail.


The moon to shine a light
Metaphor for a positive change.


Upon us all tonight
Refers to the hope for a better future for everyone in Citi Soleil.


Ooh child, I'll meet you, child
The singer is addressing a child in a comforting way.


On the sunny side, it's alright, it's alright
There is hope for a brighter future.


No lies, and no cryin'
Hope for an honest and peaceful situation.


It's alright
Repetition of a positive message.


"How you like me now?"
A rhetorical question about the current situation in Citi Soleil.


My friend, he say
The singer is quoting a friend.


"How you like the madness of Citi Soleil?"
The friend is asking the singer how they feel about the chaotic situation in Citi Soleil.


Join the triumph of the choir
The singer invites everyone to join together to overcome their struggles and improve their situation.


Citi Soleil, Citi Soleil
Repeating the name of the neighborhood as a way of connecting with it.


I love to say Citi Soleil
The singer has a connection to Citi Soleil and feels a sense of pride for it.




Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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