" 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
Yon Ti Mo
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sa'k pou rive dwe rive
Gen bagay nou pa kontwole
Nou kwaze, nou pa kontre
Men lavi rebann randevou
Gen yon koze nou dwe koze
Yon ti mo fou ke nou pral diTèlman kontan mwen vivan
Map ret tann lontan
Yon moman (yo moman) pou nou de (pou nou de)
Gen yon bagay m'sere pou ou
E mwen pap bay pèsonn li
Kou lodè bougenvilye
Nan fon kè'm ou ret tache
Menm lè m'pa bat kò'm, pa chache'w
Tankou savann sèch anba lapli
Kè n'ap bwè tout myèl tandrès ki te sere
Yon ti mo fou ke nou pral di
Lontan nape cheche kouman pou nou jwenn
Yo moman (yo moman) pou nou de (pou nou de)
Gen yon bagay m'sere pou ou
Mwen pap bay pèsonn li
Pa bay pèsonn li
Non non non non non non non
Hmmmm
Pa bay pèsonn li
Yon mirak fèt devan je'm
Si jodi a ou tou pre'm
Kèlke swa kote ou vle.wi
Pa mennen'm tounen
Yon ti mo fou ke nou pral di
Mape ret tann lontan... hmmmm
Yon moman (yo moman) pou nou de (pou nou de)
Gen yon bagay m'sere pou ou
E m'pap bay pèsonn li
Pa bay pèsonn li
Hmmmm
Yon ti mo fou ke nou pral di
Mape ret tann ou lontan... hmmmm
Yon moman (yon moman) pou nou de
Gen yon bagay m'sere pou ou
Mwen pap bay pèsonn li
Non non non non non non non non
The first verse of Emeline Michel's "Yon Ti Mo" speaks about the unpredictability of life, using the metaphor of a winding road that leads us wherever we are meant to go. Despite our efforts to control our lives, there are always things that we cannot foresee or control. We cross paths with others without necessarily meaning to, and life simmers with rendezvous that we must keep. This is followed by the chorus, which speaks of a small part of us that is crazy with joy at living, and how we wait for a moment that will come when we have something important that we need to say to someone, but we cannot tell them yet. The second verse speaks of the stains on our hearts that we cannot get rid of, even though we try to hide them. Even when we are sad, we must still extract the sweetest nectars from the most delicate flowers that we find, and we are still searching for the way to find the moment when we can make that one important statement.
The song's lyrics seem to be imbued with a sense of longing and mystery, with the singer telling the listener that there is something important that she cannot yet say to them. However, it also speaks of the unpredictability and joy of life, and the small moments that can create a lasting impact on our lives. In general, the song appears to be about finding and expressing the most important things in our lives, even when they are difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
Kou yon chimen tou trase
Like a well-worn path
Sa'k pou rive dwe rive
What will happen will happen
Gen bagay nou pa kontwole
There are things we cannot control
Nou kwaze, nou pa kontre
We may cross paths, but not paths of opposition
Men lavi rebann randevou
But life always keeps its appointments
Gen yon koze nou dwe koze
And we have a conversation we need to have
Yon ti mo fou ke nou pral di
A crazy thing that we're about to say
Tèlman kontan mwen vivan
Because we're so glad to be alive
Map ret tann lontan
I'll wait a long time
Yon moman (yo moman) pou nou de (pou nou de)
A moment for us to leave
Gen yon bagay m'sere pou ou
There is something bothering you
E mwen pap bay pèsonn li
And I won't tell anyone
Kou lodè bougenvilye
Like the scent of bougainvillea
Nan fon kè'm ou ret tache
You've stained the bottom of my heart
Menm lè m'pa bat kò'm, pa chache'w
Even when I don't move, don't look for me
Tankou savann sèch anba lapli
Like a dry savannah in the rain
Kè n'ap bwè tout myèl tandrès ki te sere
Our hearts drink all the sweet nectar that was saved
Yon mirak fèt devan je'm
A miracle happened before my eyes
Si jodi a ou tou pre'm
If you're ready today
Kèlke swa kote ou vle.wi
Wherever you want to go
Sere mwen, vòlè mwen
Hug me and carry me away
Pa mennen'm tounen
Don't bring me back
Non non non non non non non
Contributed by Emily A. 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 .........