Amazon.com's Editorial Emelin Michel:
" 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

M Pa Ka Dòmi
Emeline Michel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

eskew ka li'l,
mpa ka domi
eskew ka li'l
mpa ka domi
li genyen kè mwn nan poch li
li genyen kè mwen nan poch li

eskew ka li

sa doktè a di'm
eskew ka liiiiilaleli
sa doktè a di'm
pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l
pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l

li mete bouch sou ko mwn
dife pran nan chan kann mwn
li pa pwomet mwn anyen non(non, non, non)
li pa pwomet lap tounen

li mete bouch sou ko mwn
dife pran nan chan kann mwn
li pa pwomet mwen anyen non, non
li pa pwomet lap tounen

eskew ka di'l
sa doktè a di'm
li ban mwn koupye, li ben Mwn koupye
te korosol

doktè a rele'm li di mwn madanm pa rete remèd anko

pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l
pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l

li mete bouch sou ko mwn
dife pran nan chan kann mwn
li pa pwomet mwn anyen non(non, non, non)
li pa pwomet lap tounen

li mete bouch sou ko mwn
dife pran nan chan kann mw
li pa pwomet mwen anyen
li pa pwomet pou'l tounen

ou, ou, ou, ouuuuuu
ou, ou, ou, ouuuuuu

mpa ka domi
mpa ka domi(mpa ka domi)
mpa ka domi
ouuu mpa ka, mpa ka, mpa ka...
mpa ka domi noo
mpa ka domi
mpa ka domi
mpa ka domi
mpa ka domiiiinooo
mpa ka domi...

Overall Meaning

In Emeline Michel's song "M Pa Ka Dòmi," the singer expresses their struggle with insomnia, stating that they cannot sleep even if they try (Eskew ka li'l, mpa ka domi). They reveal that their heart belongs to someone who doesn't feel the same way and therefore, they are unable to move on and find peace (li genyen kè mwn nan poch li). The singer turns to a doctor for help, hoping to be given a medication that will help them sleep and forget about their heartache (pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l). However, the doctor's medicine is ineffective, and the fire caused by the singer's emotional turmoil continues to rage on (li mete bouch sou ko mwn, dife pran nan chan kann mwn). The singer ends the song by repeating the phrase "mpa ka domi," emphasizing that despite their efforts, they still cannot sleep and find rest.

Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the emotional pain caused by unrequited love, and the struggle to find peace and rest in the midst of heartbreak. The lyrics are accompanied by a beautifully haunting melody that further emphasizes the song's themes of longing and despair.

Line by Line Meaning

eskew ka li'l, mpa ka domi
My heart is racing, I cannot sleep

eskew ka li'l, mpa ka domi, li genyen kè mwn nan poch li, li genyen kè mwen nan poch li
My heart is racing, I cannot sleep, he has my heart in his pocket, he has my heart in his pocket

eskew ka li, sa doktè a di'm, eskew ka liiiiilaleli, sa doktè a di'm, pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l, pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l
My heart is racing, what the doctor tells me, my heart is racing, what the doctor tells me, to heal, I need to sleep by his side, to heal, I need to sleep by his side

li mete bouch sou ko mwn, dife pran nan chan kann mwn, li pa pwomet mwn anyen non(non, non, non), li pa pwomet lap tounen
He kissed my neck, sparks flew through my body, he didn't promise me anything, he didn't promise to come back

eskew ka di'l, sa doktè a di'm, li ban mwn koupye, li ben mwn koupye, te korosol
My heart is racing, what the doctor told me, he gave me some herbs, he gave me some herbs, made with corossol

doktè a rele'm li di mwn madanm pa rete remèd anko, pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l, pou'm geri fo'm domi kote'l
The doctor called me and said that the remedy did not work anymore, to heal, I need to sleep by his side, to heal, I need to sleep by his side

ou, ou, ou, ouuuuuu
Oh, oh, oh, ooooooh

mpa ka domi, mpa ka domi (mpa ka domi), mpa ka domi, ouuu mpa ka, mpa ka, mpa ka...
I cannot sleep, I cannot sleep (I cannot sleep), I cannot sleep, oh I cannot, cannot, cannot...

mpa ka domi noo, mpa ka domi, mpa ka domi, mpa ka domi, mpa ka domiiiinooo, mpa ka domi...
I cannot sleep anymore, I cannot sleep, I cannot sleep, I cannot sleep, I cannot sleep anymore, I cannot sleep...

Contributed by Lucas F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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