" Here on Rasin Kreyol (which tran… Read Full Bio ↴Amazon.com's Editorial Emelin Michel:
" Here on Rasin Kreyol (which translates as "Creole Roots"), reigning queen of Haitian song Emeline Michel covers a lot of ground, writing songs that draw upon Haitan compas, twoubadou and rara as well as jazz, rock, pop, bossa nova and samba. Whichever direction the singer goes, her voice is clear and forceful as she dramatically imparts her political lyrics in Haitian Creole and French, offering up messages about AIDS, social justice and peace. She does this skill and class: Michel repeats the line "Tell me, where is peace?" to chilling effect on "Mon Rêve," where she's joined by background singers, flute and voodoo hand drums. At the other end of the spectrum, "Ban'm La Jwa" is uplifting with its driving calypso-jazz grooves. While the singer has released a handful of albums as imports over a 15-year career, Rasin Kreyol, her Times Square records debut, is a standout that should help U.S. audiences catch up with the French speaking world that already adores her. "
-- Tad Hendrickson
Djannie
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ou di w kase, ou pa ale
Ou mare.
Mwen santi ké ou ap rache
Ou konnen sa pap mache
Ou mele
Houuu!!!!! DjanieMmmmm, dezole
Pa gad déyé, Pa pran priyé
Bay kou bliye, Pot mak sonje
Fó ou chape
Lanmou pa malé, pa mizé
Lanmou se loné, se respé
Louvri je ou
Djanie (Pale pou sa chanje)
Ale, wi se lavi ou w´ap sove
Ale, men se lanmou wap pwouve
Houuu!!!!! Djanie
Houuu!!! Djanie
Di babay ale
Sonje nou pase la déjà
Nou frape fó, pa dénye fwa
Pa twonpe ou
Yon moun ka frape w, ka blese w
Apre mennen flé, karese w
Pa reve w
Nou tout vle yon zepól, de bra pou sere n
Men nou pa vle de men ki ka touye n
Ale, wi se lavi ou w´ap sove
Oh Djanie, oh Djanie iiiiii
Houuu!!!!! Djanie
Di babay
Pou pa-pa-pa pou pou doudou pa dadew….
Fow ale Djanie Houuu!!! Djanie
Fó w ale Djanie
Mwen di ou, paske m pase la déjà
Kwé mwen, m pa pale met la
Houuu!!!!! Djanie
Ale, wi se lavi ou w´ap sove
Ale, men se lanmou wap pwouve
Di babay ale
The lyrics of Emeline Michel's song Djannie tell a story of a woman who is in love with someone who is not treating her well. She is hurt and feels trapped in the relationship because she still loves him. The first verse talks about how he hits her and doesn't listen to her, and that she feels like she can't escape him. The chorus then introduces the words "Djannie" and "dezole" which mean "Johnny" and "sorry" respectively. It seems like she is pleading with him to change his ways, using his name as a way to get through to him. The second verse admonishes the listener to not look back or forget the past, to be strong and move forward with love and respect. She urges Djannie to leave, to prove his love to her, and not to hurt her anymore. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and an encouraging "di babay ale" which translates to "say goodbye and go."
There is a sense of desperation in the lyrics of Djannie, of someone who is trapped in a toxic relationship and doesn't know how to get out of it. The use of Haitian Creole language adds a layer of sophistication and depth to the song, as it gives voice to a culture often ignored in mainstream music. The use of repetition and rhyme gives the song an almost hypnotic quality, drawing the listener into the story and making them feel the pain and sadness of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Li frape w, ou pa pale
You're being hit, but you're not talking
Ou di w kase, ou pa ale
You say you're broken, but you don't leave
Ou mare.
You're stuck
Mwen santi ké ou ap rache
I feel like you're struggling
Ou konnen sa pap mache
You know it's not going to work out
Ou mele
You're confused
Houuu!!!!! Djanie
An exclamation to get Djanie's attention
Mmmmm, dezole
An expression to apologize for disturbing her
Pa gad déyé, Pa pran priyé
Don't look back, don't pray
Bay kou bliye, Pot mak sonje
Give a blow and forget, but the scars will remember
Fó ou chape
You have to escape
Lanmou pa malé, pa mizé
Love is not evil, not miserable
Lanmou se loné, se respé
Love is loneliness, respect
Louvri je ou
Open your eyes
Djanie (Pale pou sa chanje)
Djanie, speak up for things to change
Ale, wi se lavi ou w´ap sove
Go, it's your life you're saving
Ale, men se lanmou wap pwouve
Go, but it's love you'll prove
Di babay ale
Say goodbye and go
Sonje nou pase la déjà
Remember, we've been through this before
Nou frape fó, pa dénye fwa
We fought hard, but it's not the last time
Pa twonpe ou
Don't be fooled
Yon moun ka frape w, ka blese w
Someone can hit you, can hurt you
Apre mennen flé, karese w
After sweet talk, caress you
Pa reve w
Don't be fooled
Nou tout vle yon zepól, de bra pou sere n
We all want a shelter, arms to hold us
Men nou pa vle de men ki ka touye n
But we don't want hands that can kill us
Pou pa-pa-pa pou pou doudou pa dadew….
Nonsense words sung for the chorus
Fow ale Djanie Houuu!!! Djanie
Now go, Djanie, Houuu!!! Djanie
Fó w ale Djanie
You have to go, Djanie
Mwen di ou, paske m pase la déjà
I'm telling you, because I've been there before
Kwé mwen, m pa pale met la
Believe me, I'm not just talking here
Ale, wi se lavi ou w´ap sove
Go, it's your life you're saving
Ale, men se lanmou wap pwouve
Go, but it's love you'll prove
Di babay ale
Say goodbye and go
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Roosevelt Ostine
on Gade Papi
bonjou emeline michel mw pa konnen ki sa pou mw fe pou atis pam nan se yo nan moun mw fou poli ok mw prnte pou bay kem pouli wi .........