Kassav' was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus, a long-time professional musician who worked with Freddy Marshall. Together, the two of them decided to take carnival music and make it a more modern and polished style. It was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of Zouk. They gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from kompa, salsa, and calypso, and became world famous. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the sound of zouk.
Kassav' continued to grow more popular, both as a group and with several members' solo careers, finally peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is our only drug" in French Antillean Creole) With this hit, zouk rapidly became a widespread dance craze in Latin America and the Caribbean, and was popular in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Zouk performers became known for wildly theatrical concerts featuring special effects spectacles and colorful costumes.
Djoni
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
San ou kompren la vie ka chalviré
Lè ou vlé samblé sa ki ja voltigé
Pou on oui pou on non soley kouché
a si tou sa ki vwé
Obligé alé pli pré pou bien gadé
Djoni
Di nou say passé kon sa? yéé
Sé dèpi asi chimen lékol
En téja tou sel
Pou gangné ti bwen plis solèy
En changé sik en sel
En prié dié en touché bwa
Avè moun en ainmé
pou gangné ti bwen plis solèy
Pou ren la vi pli bel
En manké passé a coté
a lanmou héhéhé
Pou mwen té sa twouvé
Ti bwen lombraj
Fo mwen té changé paj
Kongné asi onlo pot
jis tan tout main en mwen singné
Pou on oui pou on non
Soley couché asi tou sa ki vwé
Mwen ké aten lèw lévé
Jis pou ten' vou chanté
Tan pri souplé?
Tan pri souplé?
NA na na na na
na na na na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
sé on lanmou doudou
na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Doudou hérezmen
Herezmen ou té la
Mwen pa té mem sav
kèw té si inkièt pou mwen
Lov aw la ki gidé pa en mwen
Lov aw la séy ki raché baro la
Lov la té pli fo ki sa
Té pli fo ki sa
Lov la raché baro la
Choooo!
na na na na na
na na na na na
Na na na na Na na na na na
na na na na na na na
na na na na
na na na na na na na na
na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Djoni!
wo o wey o wo wo wo wé haaa
lov la té pli fo ki sa
The lyrics to Kassav's song "Djoni" are a reflection of the complexity of love and how it can affect one's life. The song is sung in Creole and the first verse talks about how life can be confusing and chaotic without someone to understand and guide us. It says that sometimes we want to be like those who are carefree but we still have to be alert and cautious. The chorus asks the question, "Djoni, what does our future hold?" and is a plea for clarity and guidance. The second verse talks about how the singer has changed their ways and lifestyle to gain more positivity and love in their life. The bridge of the song is a repetition of the phrase "Tan pri souplé" which means "Time, please be patient". The song concludes by emphasizing the importance of love and how it can help one overcome life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Pou on oui pou on non
Sometimes it's a yes, sometimes it's a no
San ou kompren la vie ka chalviré
Without your understanding, life can turn upside down
Lè ou vlé samblé sa ki ja voltigé
When you want to resemble what has already flown away
Pou on oui pou on non soley kouché
Sometimes it's a yes, sometimes it's a no, the sun is setting
a si tou sa ki vwé
Amidst everything you see
Obligé alé pli pré pou bien gadé
You have to go closer to get a better look
Djoni
Hey Johnny
Di nou say passé kon sa? yéé
Tell us how you've been? Yes?
Sé dèpi asi chimen lékol
It's been since the school days
En téja tou sel
I was all alone
Pou gangné ti bwen plis solèy
To gain a little more sunshine
En changé sik en sel
I changed my ways
En prié dié en touché bwa
I prayed to God and touched wood
Avè moun en ainmé
With people I loved
pou gangné ti bwen plis solèy
To gain a little more sunshine
Pou ren la vi pli bel
To make life more beautiful
En manké passé a coté
I missed out on love
a lanmou héhéhé
of love, hehehe
Pou mwen té sa twouvé
For me, what I had found
Ti bwen lombraj
Was a little shade
Fo mwen té changé paj
I had to change my clothes
Kongné asi onlo pot
To know which pot
jis tan tout main en mwen singné
Until every hand in me signed
Pou on oui pou on non
Sometimes it's a yes, sometimes it's a no
Soley couché asi tou sa ki vwé
The sun sets amidst everything you see
Mwen ké aten lèw lévé Jis pou ten' vou chanté
I'll wait for you to rise so we can sing together
Tan pri souplé?
Please, can we have some time?
NA na na na na
Na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
na na na na na
Na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
sé on lanmou doudou
It's a sweet love
na na na na na
Na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
na na na na na
Na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Doudou hérezmen
Darling, finally
Herezmen ou té la
Finally you're here
Mwen pa té mem sav
I didn't even know
kèw té si inkièt pou mwen
You were worried about me
Lov aw la ki gidé pa en mwen
Your love that guided me
Lov aw la séy ki raché baro la
Your love that rescued me
Lov la té pli fo ki sa
Your love was stronger than that
Té pli fo ki sa
Stronger than that
Lov la raché baro la
Your love rescued me
Choooo!
Choooo!
Djoni!
Hey Johnny!
wo o wey o wo wo wo wé haaa
Wo o wey o wo wo wo wé haaa
lov la té pli fo ki sa
Your love was stronger than that
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marie Françoise E
C était un super moment lorsque Patrick à chanter cette chanson en concert. Mémorable !!!!!
Helena Mula
RIP Patrick. Cheio de energia e morreu jovem
bichou bichou
j'ai découvert la musique antillaise dans les années 80 c'était magnifique.je présente mes condoléances à tous ses fans quelle perte!Adieu Jacob !
Felix Pierre-Leandre
Kassav donne au Antilles et au monde musical la place que nous meritons.
Jeanne Alima
J'espère que tu fais danser les anges au paradis comme tu l'a fait pour nous ici sur terre rip mon doudou
Barão João Hungulo
Anos 8 em ponto grande, recordar é realmente viver...
The Trinidadian Connection
I love this song!
Good people die young
Feleciano Moiane Lecuane
So do I
Mélanie FATOU ZEH
Nous ne t'oublierons jamais
Alkebu-lan
❤️❤️❤️❤️ good memories! Rest in peace Patrick