" 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
La chanson de Jocelyne
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
solèy ap kouche
joselin pandye
nan fenèt syèl li je klè l'ap reve
reve demen l'pap al lekøl
aswè'l ta soti a ti pøl
li lè pou'l fè yon jan ak kø'l
zanmi bouke pale'l
ni bèl pou' ta fè'w fou
pa gen piyay nan pøtoprens
se mete fan'm sou ou
demen pral fè li 20 tan
joselin pa wè tan t'ap pase
yo di sa'k ale fin'n ale
genlè genlè se vre
yo di fwa sa se tout bon vre
peyi a gen pou'l chanje
men tout politisyen sanble
sezon move tan mare
tout moun tounen'w 7 fevrye
joselin se la l'ap rete
yon grenn lespwa li gen nan kè'l
se li pou'l plante
(2fwa)
se li pou'l planteeeee
ouuuu
se li pou'l plante
ouuuu
2 ti frè 1 ti sè nan kay
manman sèl ap travay
joselin mennen twøp zanmi lakay
manman pè tripotay
joselin ta aprann yon metye
l'bouke chita filozofe
papa'l mouri ekzile
li poko ka bliye
kamyon fatra sizè
finn pase
solèy la kouche
joselin kømanse pè
l'ap mande eske ti pøl gentan ale
li te di si'l jwenn okazyon
li ta pike janbe løtbø dlo
li te di ya wè li lan televizyon
kamyon fatra sizè finn pase
loray ap gwonde
lavalas galèt pra'l desann
joselin li men'm anvi kriye
li sonje chante"mèsi bondye"
ki di konsa si lapli tonbe
mayi pouse
timoun va manjeeee
yo di fwa sa a se tout bon vre
peyi a gen pou'l chanje
men tout politisyen sanble
sezon move tan mare
tout moun tounen'w 7 fevrye
joselin se la l'ap rete
yon grenn lespwa
li gen kè'l se li pou'l plante
(2 fwa)
paaaaa
padapedaaaaaa
The song "La chanson de Jocelyne" by Emeline Michel tells the story of Jocelyne, who leans out of her window to watch a garbage truck pass by as the sun sets. Jocelyne dreams of a better tomorrow, but is stuck in her current situation where she lives with her mother and brothers in poverty. She has friends, but is struggling with life and has yet to find her own path. The lyrics also touch on the political and social realities of Haiti, where change is needed but the politicians are unreliable and the people are stuck in a difficult situation.
Through her poetic lyrics, Michel gives voice to the struggles of the Haitian people, capturing the beauty and the pains of everyday life. She shines a light on the harsh realities of poverty and political instability, but also brings a message of hope and the possibility of a better future. The song is a reflection of the complexity of emotions and challenges faced by Haitians, and a call to action for change and progress.
Line by Line Meaning
kamyon fatra sizè pase
A large truck full of trash has passed by.
solèy ap kouche
The sun is setting.
joselin pandye
Jocelyne is leaning.
nan fenèt syèl li je klè l'ap reve
At the window, she looks up at the clear sky and dreams.
reve demen l'pap al lekøl
She dreams of going to school tomorrow.
aswè'l ta soti a ti pøl
She would have gone out tonight to the little pool.
li lè pou'l fè yon jan ak kø'l
It's time for her to have fun with her friends.
zanmi bouke pale'l
Her friends are tired of talking to her.
joselin pa di'l lèd kou koukou
Jocelyne doesn't say anything mean like a cuckoo bird.
ni bèl pou' ta fè'w fou
Neither beautiful enough to make you crazy.
pa gen piyay nan pøtoprens
There are no more Piai birds in Port-au-Prince.
se mete fan'm sou ou
Someone has put a spell on you.
demen pral fè li 20 tan
Tomorrow, she will be 20 years old.
joselin pa wè tan t'ap pase
Jocelyne doesn't see the time passing.
yo di sa'k ale fin'n ale
People say that what is gone is gone.
genlè genlè se vre
Usually it's true.
yo di fwa sa se tout bon vre
They say this time it really is true.
peyi a gen pou'l chanje
The country has to change.
men tout politisyen sanble
But all politicians seem the same.
sezon move tan mare
It's a bad season of rough times.
tout moun tounen'w 7 fevrye
Everyone is waiting for February 7th.
joselin se la l'ap rete
Jocelyne will stay here.
yon grenn lespwa li gen nan kè'l
She has a little hope in her heart.
se li pou'l plante
It's up to her to plant it.
2 ti frè 1 ti sè nan kay
Two little brothers and one little sister in a house.
manman sèl ap travay
The mother is the only one working.
joselin mennen twøp zanmi lakay
Jocelyne brings too many friends home.
manman pè tripotay
The mother is afraid of gambling.
joselin ta aprann yon metye
Jocelyne would like to learn a profession.
l'bouke chita filozofe
She is bored, sitting and contemplating.
papa'l mouri ekzile
Her father died in exile.
li poko ka bliye
She cannot forget it yet.
kamyon fatra sizè
A large truck full of trash.
solèy la kouche
The sun is setting.
joselin kømanse pè
Jocelyne starts to worry.
l'ap mande eske ti pøl gentan ale
She wonders if the little pool has already closed.
li te di si'l jwenn okazyon
She said if she had the chance.
li ta pike janbe løtbø dlo
She would soak her feet in the water.
li te di ya wè li lan televizyon
She said she saw herself on television.
loray ap gwonde
The storm is brewing.
lavalas galèt pra'l desann
A big Lavalas party is going down.
joselin li men'm anvi kriye
Jocelyne feels like crying.
li sonje chante 'mèsi bondye'
She remembers singing 'thank you God'.
ki di konsa si lapli tonbe mayi pouse timoun va manjeeee
When it rains and corn grows, the children will eat.
paaaaa padapedaaaaaa
Sound of strong, persistent rain.
Contributed by Christian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrReggie816
Wow!!! I miss those good ol' times, and beautiful meaningful songs when Haiti was Ayiti for real...Way to go Emeline
@angelofrederic6103
C'est de la classe !! Beaucoup de profondeur !!
@shakeraadderley8192
Kiyes tounen back Nan ane sa memjan avek mwen 2020
@merlidy
Nostalgie ap fini ak mwen!
@theeclecticlady1846
Woww...QUEEN...depi lontan politisyen pat janm an favè pép...kamion te konn pase ranmase frata chak 6h nan matern..SOUVENIR
@lilhudson10
This is my song. I remembered when i was in haiti my mother used to sing that song for me. I love that song. this is a great song.
@santanadanielrenaldoguerre7458
Très beau texte, très belle musique!
@misscavana08
Je suis contente d'être enfin tomber sur ce vidéo.
@Aswoopinhaiti
Wow, Emeline did not know where her voice would take her! I love you Emeline...
@FachyDriceDavid
Jocelyne te byen plante, li rekolte " Gade papi sa pa pli mal" Rev ou se manman reyalite w