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.
Kay-manman
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kaye manman mwen
Ni on tan ki ka roulé
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
Pwan on papyé é on kréyon
Pou mwen pé ba'w an ki fason
Ou pé touvé san ou garé
Koté manman mwen ka rété
Lé ou pasé belvedé-a
Viré a goch monté mon-la
gran kaz blan-la sé poko-sa
chéché ta la ka soukoué-a
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
Si ni dézod sé abitué
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
pas' mizik la pé ké bésé
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
Kaye manman mwen té ké tranblé
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
Sa'w ou fé bo fré kijan ou yé
é vou konmé ki dényé fré
pa ni zafé rété sizé
Si ou ni mal pyé woté soulyé
la gout'déyé poko mangnyé
e pou manjé pa kalkilé
lé mizik la ka déboulé
sé apiyé pou nou alé
The song "Kay-Manman" by Kassav' opens with the lines "Koté pou nou fini la swaré, Kaye manman mwen, Ni on tan ki ka roulé". This translates to "Where are we going to end the evening, my mother's house, There's still time left". The song is about returning to one's roots and seeking comfort and familiarity in one's mother's house. The repeated lines "Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé" emphasize the importance and power of the mother figure in the singer's life.
The singer urges the listener to write down their thoughts and feelings, using a piece of paper and a pencil, emphasizing the importance of self-expression and reflection. They then describe the scenic route to the mother's house, using the imagery of a big white house and a winding road. The chorus emphasizes the idea that if there is chaos or disorder, the mother's presence will bring stability and calmness.
The lyrics also allude to the idea of being grounded and connected to one's homeland, as expressed in lines like "Si ou ni mal pyé woté soulyé, la gout'déyé poko mangnyé" meaning "If you have sore feet, take off your shoes, and the dew has not yet fallen". This indicates that the singer is in tune with the natural rhythm of their surroundings and is at ease in their surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
(Koté pou nou fini la swaré)
Where will we end up tonight?
Kaye manman mwen
My mother's house
Ni on tan ki ka roulé
It has been rolling for some time
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house, it would shake)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house, it would shake)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house, it would shake)
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house, it would shake)
Pwan on papyé é on kréyon
Take a paper and a pencil
Pou mwen pé ba'w an ki fason
So that I can give you the directions
Ou pé touvé san ou garé
You can find it without getting lost
Koté manman mwen ka rété
Where my mother stays
Lé ou pasé belvedé-a
When you pass by the viewpoint
Viré a goch monté mon-la
Turn left and go up the hill
gran kaz blan-la sé poko-sa
The big white house is not yet there
chéché ta la ka soukoué-a
Look, it is hidden behind there
(Kaye manman, la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house, it would shake)
Si ni dézod sé abitué
If there are any irregularities, it's normal
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house would shake)
pas' mizik la pé ké bésé
As long as the music doesn't stop
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house would shake)
Kaye manman mwen té ké tranblé
My mother's house would shake
(Kaye manman la té ké tranblé)
(My mother's house would shake)
Sa'w ou fé bo fré kijan ou yé
What you are doing, brother, how are you?
é vou konmé ki dényé fré
And you know who is the last brother
pa ni zafé rété sizé
There is no reason to stay seated
Si ou ni mal pyé woté soulyé
If you have sore feet, take off your shoes
la gout'déyé poko mangnyé
The drop behind hasn't yet eaten
e pou manjé pa kalkilé
And for food, do not be stingy
lé mizik la ka déboulé
When the music starts to play
sé apiyé pou nou alé
It's time for us to go
Writer(s): jacob desvarieux, jocelyne béroard
Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vi
on Mwen di ou awa
I Tell You Now / I Am Telling You Now