" 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
Mèsi Lavi
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yon kanaval koule mélange
Mwen di mesi pou de gren'n je'm
Pou ke'm ki nan mitan ko'm
Ki pap janm bouke renmen
Mesi pou men'm ki karese
Tout moun lanmou mennen lan vi'm
Mesi pou se'm, manman'm, zanmi'm
Pou kore'm lo'm pral tonbe
On jou mwen ri, on jou m'kriye
Konsa lavi'm ap deploye
Genyen rezon pou'm ta plenyen
Men pito'm konte tout sa'm gneyen
Defwa'm lite m'degrengole
Men le'm tonbe m'toujou leve
Sou de pye mwen ki pote mwen
Kote tout sous dlo yo ap koule
Mesi pou vwa'm ki kap pale
Tou sa nan'm mwen pa ka sere
Pou zorey mwen ki ka tande
Yon fre'm ki bezwen pale
Lo problem yo vle pote'l
Mesi pou moun ki pa jije'm
Ban mwen lanmou le yo kwaze'm
Toujou vini pou yon bravo
La lo'm pedi adres mwen
Lo van yo ap pliye'm
On jou mwen ri, on jou m'kriye
Konsa lavi'm ap deploye
Genyen rezon pou'm ta plenyen
Men pito'm konte tout sa'm genyen
Defwa'm lite m'degrengole
Men lo'm tonbe m'toujou leve
Sou de pye mwen ki pote mwen
Kote tout sous dlo yo ap koule
Mesi, mesi, mesi laviDe pye'm, de men'm, de je'm, de zorey mwen
mesi lavi
Mesi, mesi, mesi lavi
The song "Mèsi Lavi" by Emeline Michel is a beautiful expression of gratitude for life's blessings, both big and small. The opening lines describe the singer feeling the warmth of the sun and hearing a colorful carnival passing by. She expresses thanks for the eyes that allow her to see the world around her, particularly the two grains of sand that seem insignificant to most, but mean a lot to her. The singer thanks the hands that caress her and the love that has brought meaning to her life. She expresses gratitude to her mother, friend, and all the people who have stood by her, providing support and helping her through difficult times.
The lyrics of the song also acknowledge life's struggles and hardships but focus on the resilience and strength needed to overcome them. The singer states that she has reasons to complain, but instead chooses to count her blessings. She acknowledges that she has fallen many times, but always stands back up, with the help of her feet that carry her and her arms that hold her. The song concludes with the repeated expression of gratitude to life, thanking all the parts of her body that allow her to experience and enjoy it.
Overall, "Mèsi Lavi" is a powerful reminder to appreciate the good things in life, no matter how small they may seem, and to persevere through tough times with a thankful attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
M'bare soley la kap benyen
The sun is setting and the carnival is beginning
Yon kanaval koule mélange
A carnival is a mix of different things
Mwen di mesi pou de gren'n je'm
I thank my two eyes for seeing everything
Pou ke'm ki nan mitan ko'm
For being in the middle of everything
Ki pap janm bouke renmen
And for never getting tired of love
Mesi pou men'm ki karese
Thank you to my hands that caress
Tout moun lanmou mennen lan vi'm
Everyone brings love into my life
Mesi pou se'm, manman'm, zanmi'm
Thank you to myself, my mother, and my friends
Ki la ki kanpe kote'm
Who are there for me and stand by me
Pou kore'm lo'm pral tonbe
To support me when I'm about to fall
On jou mwen ri, on jou m'kriye
One day I laugh, another day I cry
Konsa lavi'm ap deploye
That's how my life unfolds
Genyen rezon pou'm ta plenyen
I have reasons to complain
Men pito'm konte tout sa'm gneyen
But I prefer to count all that I have
Defwa'm lite m'degrengole
Sometimes I stumble in my struggles
Men le'm tonbe m'toujou leve
But when I fall, I always get back up
Sou de pye mwen ki pote mwen
It's on my own two feet that I am carried
Kote tout sous dlo yo ap koule
Where all the streams flow
Mesi pou vwa'm ki kap pale
Thanks to my voice that can speak
Tou sa nan'm mwen pa ka sere
All that's within me I can't contain
Pou zorey mwen ki ka tande
For my ears that can hear
Yon fre'm ki bezwen pale
A friend who needs to talk
Lo problem yo vle pote'l
And the problems they want to carry
Mesi pou moun ki pa jije'm
Thank you to those who don't judge me
Ban mwen lanmou le yo kwaze'm
And give me love when they cross paths with me
Toujou vini pou yon bravo
Always coming to applaud me
La lo'm pedi adres mwen
And even when I lose my way
Lo van yo ap pliye'm
The wind will guide me back
Mesi, mesi, mesi lavi
Thank you, thank you, thank you life
De pye'm, de men'm, de je'm, de zorey mwen
For my feet, my hands, my eyes, and my ears
mesi lavi
Thank you life
Mesi, mesi, mesi lavi
Thank you, thank you, thank you life
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@volrinykensonulysse2883
Merci à Emeline pour ce son! Là, nous sommes le 23 janvier 2024, juste un moment de gratitude envers la vie❤
@nostalgmic7681
Que de la nostalgie quand je regarde à quel point que la situation notre pays se dégrade 😢😢😢😢. Yon ti Chans pou Haiti souple .
@DesgrangesFritzlande
❤❤❤
@nostalgmic7681
❤
@StersonCharles-wx2jp
Konbyn moun ki wè mizik sa se te Youn nn pi bl mizik ayiti an 2013
@user-km7ic2gn4k
Yonn nan pi bèl mizik ki genyen, map mwen koute l anpil refleksyon pran swiv mwen❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@elucknerpierre8308
Gad yon fanm love you 2023
@NiyouTilius
Encore décembre 2023 par rapport la façon dont les mexicaines m'ont donné support ❤❤
@lealyons77
Beautiful!
@ClarvensMichel04
2024 anyone???