" 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
San Ou
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ou pa vle kite sa parèt
gen chagren k'ap manje andan'w
remø ap bouyi lan san'w
ou pa santi istwa sa rekouleee
ou fè'm on ti bizou
pi yon ti kase kou
mo a glise k'ou kalalou
chak fwa'w tounen
w'rache yon ti moso anndan'm
on ti sous on dlo dous
solèy boule
ki kote'n betize
cheri kalbas nou koule
on ti sous on dlo dous
fin'n deseche
mwen pate janmen
non janmen fè plan pou m'al viv
san ou
m'pat reyalize
e ou paka efase
de pawøl ki defwa chape
lè yon kè blese vle pale
ki pat pare pou'l ta rekømanse
kite lapli tonbe
m'pa anvi bouje
sa rèd lø lanmou kraze rak
kølèt lø li pral kite mak
kite'm reve ke anyen
anyen pa chanje
on ti sous yon dlo dous
solèy boule
ki kote'n betize cheri
kalbas nou koule
on ti sous on dlo dous
fin'n deseche
mwen pate janmen
non janmen fè plan
pou mwen te viv
san ou
hmmm
eeeyy
mwen grangou'w toujou
sa ki di chwazi lanmou
se chwazi lapen'n
mweeeeen grangou'w toujou
pouki men'm kite men'm
on ti sous on dlo dous
solèy boule
ki kote'n betize
cheri kalbas nou koule
on ti sous yon dlo dous
fin'n deseche
mwen pate janmen
non janmen fè plan pou m'al viv
san ou
hhhhmmmmmm
san ou
san ou
hmmmm
san ou
eeeee
ouuuuuu
san ou
san ou
yeahhh
huhhhh
yeahhhh
The song "San Ou" by Emeline Michel is a heartbreaking expression of how difficult it is to move on from a lost relationship. The song starts with the singer of the song finding comfort in smoking a cigarette in an attempt to forget their pain, but realizing that it won't help them move on. They express their frustration that no matter what they do, they can't seem to escape the pain, and every time they try, they end up finding themselves back in the same emotional state. They then lament the loss of a sweet time in their relationship when they were both happy and in love, and how the memory of that lost love lingers on.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "san ou" which translates to "without you," highlighting the theme of loss and the struggle to move on after a relationship ends. Emeline's voice is filled with raw emotion throughout the song, effectively conveying the overwhelming pain that comes with heartbreak. The overall message of the song encourages listeners to confront their pain and process it in order to eventually come to terms with the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
ou limen on sigarèt
You light a cigarette
ou pa vle kite sa parèt
You don't want to let it show
gen chagren k'ap manje andan'w
There is sorrow eating you up inside
remø ap bouyi lan san'w
Anguish is boiling within you
ou pa santi istwa sa rekouleee
You don't feel like telling this story again
ou fè'm on ti bizou
You give me a little kiss
pi yon ti kase kou
And a little break
mo a glise k'ou kalalou
My words slide like okra
pa gen garanti nan lanmou
There is no guarantee in love
chak fwa'w tounen
Whenever you come around
w'rache yon ti moso anndan'm
You rip out a little piece of me
on ti sous on dlo dous
A little drop of sweet water
solèy boule
The sun is burning
ki kote'n betize
Where the foolishness is
cheri kalbas nou koule
My dear, our tears are flowing
fin'n deseche
And drying up
mwen pate janmen
I couldn't imagine
non janmen fè plan pou m'al viv
Never made plans to live without you
san ou
Without you
m'pat reyalize
I didn't realize
e ou paka efase
And you can't erase
de pawøl ki defwa chape
The words that sometimes slip
lè yon kè blese vle pale
When a wounded heart wants to speak
ki pat pare pou'l ta rekømanse
But it's not ready to start again
kite lapli tonbe
Let the rain fall
m'pa anvi bouje
I don't want to move
sa rèd lø lanmou kraze rak
Love is tough, it can break your back
kølèt lø li pral kite mak
Its scars will leave a mark
kite'm reve ke anyen
Let me dream that nothing
anyen pa chanje
Nothing will change
hmmm
eeeyy
mwen grangou'w toujou
I am still hungry for you
sa ki di chwazi lanmou
What they say is to choose love
se chwazi lapen'n
It's choosing the pain
mweeeeen grangou'w toujou
I am still hungry for you
pouki men'm kite men'm
Why did we leave each other again
ouuuuuu
yeahhh
huhhhh
yeahhhh
Contributed by Skyler C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Roosevelt Ostine
on Gade Papi
bonjou emeline michel mw pa konnen ki sa pou mw fe pou atis pam nan se yo nan moun mw fou poli ok mw prnte pou bay kem pouli wi .........