" 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
Moso Manman
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kadanse manman mwen
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
Vin danse manman mwen
Fow souri manman mwen
Yon chante pou manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwewJou file mfin grandi
Anpil bagay nou pedi
Lom gade kotem soti
Se pa Selman mirak lanati
Liv lanmou sa depasem
Pou fos ak fyel ki devansem
Kay la nan poto mitan
Low posede moso manman
Woooo
Vin danse manman mwen
Kadanse manman mwen
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
Vin danse manman mwen
Fow souri manman mwen
Yon chante pou manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
Map gade vi plise
Tout cheve blan gentan pouse
Wou papa souple wa pretem de jou poum ba ou lanmoum
Louvri zel fe granpanpan
Ou pap janm granmoun pou manmanw
Kontra sa ekri avek san
Jouk tan pa rete ankenn tan
Wooooo
Vin danse manman mwen
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
Vin danse manman mwen
Fow souri manman mwen
Yon chante pou manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
Pot ou gran louvri
Kelke swa sam ta fe nan lavi
Sa kite lakay pati manmi
Ou menm ou la pi di
Ti manman cheri
Ou se yon kout kreyon san rati
Mande kesyon cheche repons
Manman wap gen rezon
Kadanse manman mwen
Ou se dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwe
Vin danse manman mwen
Kadanse manman mwen
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
(danse manman mwen) hmmm danse danse danse manman
(danse manman mwen) mesi manman mesi manman
(danse manman mwen) mesi mesi anpil
(danse manman mwen)
Pot la gran louvri
Kelke swa sam ta fe nan lavi
Sa kite lakay pati manmi
Ou menm ou la pi di
Wi manman cheri
Ou seyon kout kreyon san rati
Mande kesyon cheche repons
Manman wap gen rezon
Danse danse manman mwen
Ou se manmanm ou se manmanm ou se manmanm
Hmmmmmm
Vin danse manman mwen
Kadanse manman mwen
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
(danse manman mwen) souri manmanm
(danse manman mwen) mpaka mwen paka peyew
Mwen pap peye, mwen pap peyew
Pot ou gran louvri
Kelke swa sam ta fe nan lavi
Sa kite lakay pati manmi
Ou menm ou la pi di
Wi manman cheri
Ou seyon kout kreyon san rati
Mande kesyon cheche repons
Manman wap gen rezon
Danse, ou se manman mwen, ou se manman mwen
Ou se manman mwen,
Mwen paka peyew
(danse manman mwen) wou danse manman mwen
(danse manman mwen) wou manman mwen
(danse manman mwen) kadanse manman mwen
(danse manman mwen) kadanse kadanse
(danse manman mwen) manmanmanmanmanmanmanmanman non
(danse manman mwen) kadanse kadanse kadanse kadanse
(danse manman mwen) kadanse manman mwen
(danse manman mwen) ou se tche mwen
(danse manman mwen) ou se tche mwen
(danse manman mwen) vin danse vin danse vin danse
(danse manman mwen)…
The lyrics to Emeline Michel's song Moso Manman contain a touching tribute to a mother figure, with the singer inviting her mother to dance and expressing gratitude for her presence in her life. Michel highlights the passage of time and the losses that come with it, but also celebrates the love that endures between mother and child. The reference to the "liv lanmou" or book of love suggests that Michel has drawn upon her experiences of motherhood to understand and appreciate her own mother more fully. The "poto mitan" or central pillar is also significant, as it is a symbol in Haitian spirituality that represents the connection between heaven and earth - this reinforces the idea that Michel sees her mother as a grounding force in her life.
Line by Line Meaning
Vin danse manman mwen
Come dance with my mother
Kadanse manman mwen
Keep dancing with my mother
Mka baw dyaman manman mwen
I'll give you diamonds for my mother
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwew
I will pay you what I owe
Fow souri manman mwen
Let my mother smile
Yon chante pou manman mwen
A song for my mother
Jou file mfin grandi
Days go by and I grew up
Anpil bagay nou pedi
We lost many things
Lom gade kotem soti
People look where I came from
Se pa Selman mirak lanati
It's not only a miracle of nature
Liv lanmou sa depasem
This book of love surpasses me
Pou fos ak fyel ki devansem
For strength and the envy in front of me
Kay la nan poto mitan
The house is at the center post
Low posede moso manman
I have a piece of my mother
Woooo
Map gade vi plise
I'm looking at the wrinkled faces
Tout cheve blan gentan pouse
All the white hair already grew
Wou papa souple wa pretem de jou poum ba ou lanmoum
You are a father who easily lends his love to me
Louvri zel fe granpanpan
Open your wings and make a big noise
Ou pap janm granmoun pou manmanw
You will never be a grown-up for your mother
Kontra sa ekri avek san
This contract is written with blood
Jouk tan pa rete ankenn tan
Until time never stands still
Wooooo
Pot ou gran louvri
Open your big heart
Kelke swa sam ta fe nan lavi
Whatever I do in life
Sa kite lakay pati manmi
This left home without a mother
Ou menm ou la pi di
You are the most powerful, you are here
Ti manman cheri
Little dear mother
Ou se yon kout kreyon san rati
You are a pencil sketch without erasing
Mande kesyon cheche repons
Ask questions, look for answers
Manman wap gen rezon
Mother, you will have a reason
Ou se dyaman manman mwen
You're the diamond of my mother
Mpaka peyew sa mwen dwe
I will pay you what I owe
(danse manman mwen) hmmm danse danse danse manman
(danse manman mwen) mesi manman mesi manman
Thank you mother, thank you mother
(danse manman mwen) mesi mesi anpil
Thank you, thank you very much
(danse manman mwen)
Pot la gran louvri
Open your big heart
Wi manman cheri
Yes dear mother
Ou seyon kout kreyon san rati
You are a pencil sketch without erasing
Danse danse manman mwen
Dance, dance with my mother
Ou se manmanm ou se manmanm ou se manmanm
You're my mother, you're my mother, you're my mother
Hmmmmmm
(danse manman mwen) souri manmanm
Smile my mother
(danse manman mwen) mpaka mwen paka peyew
I will pay you what I owe
Mwen pap peye, mwen pap peyew
I cannot pay, I cannot pay
Danse, ou se manman mwen, ou se manman mwen
Dance, you're my mother, you're my mother
Ou se manman mwen, Mwen paka peyew
You're my mother, I cannot pay
(danse manman mwen) wou danse manman mwen
Wow, dance with my mother
(danse manman mwen) wou manman mwen
Wow, my mother
(danse manman mwen) kadanse manman mwen
Keep dancing with my mother
(danse manman mwen) kadanse kadanse
Keep dancing, keep dancing
(danse manman mwen) manmanmanmanmanmanmanmanman non
(danse manman mwen) kadanse kadanse kadanse kadanse
Keep dancing, keep dancing, keep dancing, keep dancing
(danse manman mwen) ou se tche mwen
You are my spot
(danse manman mwen) vin danse vin danse vin danse
Come dance, come dance, come dance
(danse manman mwen)…
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrSidney9
The song is in Haitian Creole. This woman is a national treasure. This song is a homage to moms.
" come and dance with me mommy., I could give you diamonds, but I'll never be able to repay you...you are diamond...."
@lunise84
Manmi cherie kile map sispann kriye pou absans ou nan vim ou ale avek mwatye nan vim nan tonbo men helas repose en paix ma precieuse manmi
@alexis_lsa4589
Cette musique mérite tellement plus de reconnaissance, je l’écoutais étant petit et j’aimais déjà, mais maintenant que je comprend les paroles !!! Wow c’est incroyable
@ttusch
I don't understand a single word but this song is absolutely beautiful..... especially the piano fills at the very end ;) Love it !
@MrSidney9
ttusch That's Haitian Creole. This woman is a national treasure. This song is a homage to moms.
" come and dance with me mommy., I could give you diamonds, but I'll never be able to repay you...you are diamond...."
@judeersonkendydexiste4621
I cant pay you back Mom
@prusseandycelestin8579
This is a song for mothers. I can translate if you want.
@VMessiah1
I remember watching and fall in love with her voice as a child in Haiti
@ttheodore24
her music brings me back all the way to my mom singing in the bathroom and dancing to some bomb Haitian music (; memories beyond compare for sure
@daniellaantoine7565
TamiTTV