Viejo
Emeline Michel Lyrics

nan mitan yon chan kann boygwe
In the midst of a sugarcane field

an dominikani
In the Dominican Republic

de ayisyen chita lonm batay
Two Haitians sit in the middle of a battle

pye atè do touni
Their feet buried in the earth

pandan youn tap pale
While one is talking

youn tape koute
The other is listening

mwen diw yo pat fe bwi
I tell you they did not drink

van nan kann nan selman ki tande sa yo tape di
The wind in the cane only hears what they say

youn di kouzen mw pral fete ayiti
One says, 'Cousin, I'm going to celebrate Haiti'

men yon komisyon wa bay madanm mw pou mw
But a commission gives my wife to me

li di kouzen son dios pesos
He tells his cousin 500 pesos

li di kouzen le wa janbe lakay souw jwenn madanm mwe plase wa bay manman mw li pou mw
He tells his cousin: 'When you go home, go to my house and give my mother this money for me'

kouzen ale, kouzen tounen
Cousin goes, cousin returns

ak on nouvel ki bay ke plen
With news that is full of pain

manman mouri mouri sa gen kek ane
Mother dies, dies without seeing for several years

gan moun ki di ke se chagren
There are people who say it's grief

madanm nan la lila lila lape kenbe
The woman in black holds him tightly

e timoun yo mal okipe
And the children are poorly taken care of

premye a grandi li grandi tankou chwal
The first one grew up, grew up like a horse

ti denye a pa menm sonje papal
The last one doesn't even remember his father

van nan kann nan kouri efase
The wind in the cane rushes to erase

efase sa yo tape di
Erase what they said

youn di kouzen mwen sot fete ayiti
One tells his cousin, 'I just celebrated Haiti'

men yon komisyon madanm ou voye pou ou
But a commission your wife sent for you

li diw kouzen kozen li lò pouw tounen
She tells you, cousin, it's urgent that you come back

li diw kouzen le wa janbe lakay menm siw pa pot anyen pa kite manchèt ou deyè
She tells you, cousin, when you go home, even if you don't have anything, don't leave your machete behind

kouzen wa pot manchet pouw koupe bayawonn woy
Cousin, take your machete and cut the bayawonn weed

kouzen wa pot manchèt pouw koupe kandelab woy
Cousin, take your machete and cut the candelab weed

kozen wa pot manchèt pouw koupe move zèb woy
Cousin, take your machete and cut the bad grass

kouzen wa pot manchèt pouw koupe move zèb woy
Cousin, take your machete and cut the bad grass