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

Sa Ki Tire
Emeline Michel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sa ki tire
Sa ki tire la nan montay Dahome
Sa ki tire
Sa ki tire la nan montay Dahome

Se mwen menm oli olan
Kòk chante Kokiyoko
Wa menen-m ale nan montay Dahome

Overall Meaning

The song "Sa Ki Tire" by Emeline Michel is a Creole song that is centered around a story about someone who was shot in the Dahomey Mountains. The refrain "Sa ki tire" which means "who got shot?" is repeated throughout the song. The verses tell a story of a person who is now the only one left to tell the tale of what happened to the individual who was shot in the mountains. The song makes references to folklore and mythology, particularly in the line "Kòk chante Kokiyoko" which could be referencing the Haitian folktale about the rooster who uses his singing to bring his dead owner back to life.

Furthermore, the song touches on themes of mortality and the value of life as the individual who was shot is now gone and their life has been taken away. The song is also about coming to terms with the reality of death and accepting it as part of the cycle of life. The overall message of the song is to cherish life and to acknowledge the importance of storytelling in preserving the memories of those who have passed away.

Line by Line Meaning

Sa ki tire
That which is shot

Sa ki tire la nan montay Dahome
That which is shot in the mountains of Dahomey

Sa ki tire
That which is shot

Sa ki tire la nan montay Dahome
That which is shot in the mountains of Dahomey

Se mwen menm oli olan
It's me, the free spirit

Kòk chante Kokiyoko
The rooster sings Kokiyoko

Wa menen-m ale nan montay Dahome
You're telling me to go to the mountains of Dahomey

Contributed by Arianna H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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