Yon fi kon Magali
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

Yon fi kon Magali
Emeline Michel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sete yon vandredi
Nan gwo solèy midi
Briganday sou channmas
Elèv soti nan klas
Kouri dèyè Rambo
Pou yo sa wè'l an fas
Kouri dèyè Rambo
Yo te vle wè'l an fas

Vyolans mennen vyolans
Moun konn mouri pou rans
On nèg k'on bèt an kaj
Vle kase chenn ak raj
Solda pèdi kontwøl
Bal mawon chape køl
Solda pèdi kontwøl
Bal mawon chwazi bø'l

Pa gen pèsonn k'antø
Si'l t'ap refèt ankø
Se yon løt
Magali
Ki t'ap pèdi lavi'l
Se yon løt Magali
Ki t'ap pèdi lavi'l

Pa gen pèson'n k'antø

Pa men'm yon branch ramo
Inosan k'ap pèdi
Si se pa't de ti mo
Sou moso melodi
Kisa'k ta gen pou di
Pou yon fi k'ou Magali
Kisa'k ta gen pou di
Pou yon fi k'ou Magali
Hmm
Malchans mennen malchans
Moun kon'n mouri pou rans
On foto nan jounal
On tach nan solèy sal
Memwa nou bliye vit
G'anpil istwa san swit
Memwa nou bliye vit
Anpil istwa san swit

M'di
Pa gen pèson'n
K'antø
Si'l t'ap refèt ankø
Se yon løt Magali
Ki t'ap pèdi lavi'l
Se yon løt Magali
Ki t'ap pèdi lavi'l
Pa gen
Pèson'n
K'antø
G'on mak san ki rete
Sou plas kot nèg mawon
S'on nègès ki tonbe
S'on jijman san rezon
G'on mak san ki seche
Kote moun ap pase
Pat gen nesesite
Non pa nesesite
Bal mawon nèg mawon
Hhmmmm
Adje adje adje
Magali Magali
Hummmm
Magali
Oh oh ohhhhh
Adjeeeeeeee

Overall Meaning

The song "Yon fi kon Magali" by Emeline Michel tells a story about a girl named Magali who is losing her life due to the violence and chaos happening in her community. The song sets the scene with a vivid portrayal of a Friday afternoon in the midst of the chaos. As the violence escalates, innocent people are losing their lives, including Magali. The song highlights the senselessness of the violence and how it is affecting the innocent lives of the community members.


The lyrics use powerful imagery to convey the violence and chaos that Magali and other innocent people are experiencing. The line "Vyolans mennen vyolans, moun konn mouri pou rans" (violence leads to violence, people often die for ransom) portrays the vicious cycle of violence and how it leads to more violence and innocent deaths. The line "On foto nan jounal, on tach nan solèy sal" (a photo in the newspaper, a stain in the dirty sun) emphasizes the idea that even though the innocent victims' deaths may be reported in the news, their lives are reduced to just a mere stain in the larger picture of the ongoing violence and chaos.


Overall, the song serves as a poignant commentary on the real-life impact of violence and how it affects everything from individuals to the larger community.


Line by Line Meaning

Sete yon vandredi
It was a Friday


Nan gwo solèy midi
In the middle of the day, under the bright sun


Briganday sou channmas
Riots on the streets


Elèv soti nan klas
Students leaving their class


Kouri dèyè Rambo
Running after Rambo


Pou yo sa wè'l an fas
In order to see him face to face


Vyolans mennen vyolans
Violence leads to more violence


Moun konn mouri pou rans
People often die for nothing


On nèg k'on bèt an kaj
A man is like an animal in a cage


Vle kase chenn ak raj
Wants to break chains and bars


Solda pèdi kontwøl
Soldiers lose control


Bal mawon chape køl
Black bullets fly around


Pa gen pèsonn k'antø
There is nobody around


Si'l t'ap refèt ankø
If it were to happen again


Se yon løt Magali
It's another Magali


Ki t'ap pèdi lavi'l
Who is about to lose her life


Pa men'm yon branch ramo
Not even a small branch


Inosan k'ap pèdi
Innocent people are losing


Si se pa't de ti mo
If it were not for a few words


Sou moso melodi
On a piece of melody


Kisa'k ta gen pou di
What can one say


Pou yon fi k'ou Magali
For a girl like Magali


Hmm


Malchans mennen malchans
Misfortune leads to more misfortune


On foto nan jounal
A photo in the newspaper


On tach nan solèy sal
A stain in the dirty sun


Memwa nou bliye vit
We forget quickly


G'anpil istwa san swit
Many stories without an end


M'di
I say


Pa gen pèson'n
There is no one


K'antø
Around


G'on mak san ki rete
A scar that remains


Sou plas kot nèg mawon
On the place where black men were


S'on nègès ki tonbe
A woman who falls


S'on jijman san rezon
A trial without reason


G'on mak san ki seche
A scar that dries up


Kote moun ap pase
Where people are passing by


Pat gen nesesite
There was no need


Non pa nesesite
No need to speak


Bal mawon nèg mawon
Black bullets, black men


Hhmmmm


Adje adje adje


Magali Magali
Magali


Hummmm


Magali
Magali


Oh oh ohhhhh


Adjeeeeeeee




Contributed by Ethan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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