Repertoire of Haitian Vodou Songs

Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
Repertoire of Haitian Vodou Songs
This repertoire was collected in the summer of 2013 in Mirebalais (Haiti), from Pierre Ti Doudou,
master drummer of the group Rasin Bayaron.
Edited by Daniel Mirabeau and Benjamin Hebblethwaite
Collection, transcription and notes: Daniel Mirabeau
Haitian Creole orthographic corrections and English translation: Tahiri Jean-Baptiste and Benjamin
Hebblethwaite
French translation: Daniel Mirabeau, Thony Louis Jacques
1) Songs of Bizango1
1) Songs of Bizango
1) M'ap tann pèlen
mayi2 bizango / mayizepol bizango
1) I am waiting for a trap
Rhythm: mayi bizango or mayizepol bizango
M'ap tann pèlen m o Bondye!
M'ap tann pèlen m jan I pase, I pase,
O Bondye!
Vyann nan pou' m manje,
Zo a pou'm fè la woulèt.
Dyab3 la!
Vyann nan pou' m manje,
Zo a pou'm fè la woulèt.
Dyab la!
Oh God I am waiting for my trap!
I am waiting for my trap however it comes
Oh God!
The meat is for me to eat,
The bones are for me to make a necklace
The Dyab!
The meat is for me to eat,
The bones are for me to make a necklace
The Dyab!
Je prépare mon piège ô Bon Dieu
Je prépare mon piège quoi qu’il arrive ô Bon Dieu
Je mangerai ta chair et ton âme
Pour faire un collier d'os
Pour Dyab!
2) Lenmba4 ayayay Lenmba!
mayi bizango
2) Lenmba ayayay Lenmba!
Rhythm: mayi bizango
Lenmba ayayay Lenmba!
Lenmba ayayay Lenmba!
Anmwe Lenmba,
Ayayay Lenmba!
Vini pran mwen,
Mennen m ale si w kapab!
Lenmba ouch Lenmba!
Lenmba ouch Lenmba!
Oh help Lenmba,
Ouch Lenmba!
Come get me,
Carry me away if you can!
Lenmba aïe aïe aïe Lenmba!
Lenmba aïe aïe aïe Lenmba!
C’est moi Lenmba,
Ayayay Lenmba!
Viens-me prendre
Et conduis-moi sans ménagement
1
2
3
4
Secret religious communauty close to voodoo.
Etymologically: corn, it represents a specific ceremony rythm of bizango's sect.
Dyab is a sort of lwa, without christian's connotation. He's known very hot and dangerous
Harmful deity of the petro pantheon, represented with an excessively long tongue
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
3) Jan yo wè m
mayizepol bizango
3) The way they see me
Rhythm: mayizepol bizango
Jan yo w è m
Nan m piti, konsa
Zo m plen kò mwen.
Jan yo w è m
Nan m piti, konsa
Zo m plen kò mwen.
They see
That I am small,
My bones fill my body.
They see
That I am small,
My bones fill my body.
Jan yo wè m yo w è m yo w è m
Nan m piti, konsa
Zo m plen kò mwen.
Jan yo w è m
Nan m piti, konsa
Zo m plen kò mwen.
They see me, see me, see that
I am small,
My bones fill my body.
They see that
I am small
My bones fill my body.
Les gens, vous qui me considérez comme un petit
Je suis un homme fort et habité
Dans toutes les parties de mon corps
2) Songs of djouba matinik
2) Songs of djouba matinik
Rhythm: djouba matinik
1) Madanm o pa rele!
Madanm o pa rele!
Pran kouraj o!
Pa rele o!
Ayayay o
Pa rele!
Ayayay o
Pa kriye!
O pran kouraj o!
Konsole w madanm,
Nou prale!
1) Oh don’t cry madam!
Oh madam don’t cry!
Oh take courage!
Oh don’t cry!
Oh ayayay!
Don’t cry!
Oh ayayay
Don’t cry!
Oh take courage!
Console yourself madam,
We are leaving!
Ô femme ne pleure pas, courage !
Ne pleure pas
Ne pleure pas
Ne verse plus de larmes, courage !
Ressaisis-toi
On y est presqu
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
2) Medizan
2) Medizan
Medizan nou prale!
Medizan o nou prale!
Medizan nou prale!
Medizan o nou prale
Pou'm fè sèvis lèmò a5
Nou prale o!
M'ap kite peyi a ba yo
Pou'm fè sèvis lèmò a
Nou prale o!
M'ap kite peyi a ba yo
Slanderers we are leaving
Oh slanderers we are leaving!
Slanderers we are leaving
Oh slanderers we are leaving
So I can do the service for the corpse!
Oh we are leaving!
I will leave the country for them
So I can go do the service for the dead!
Oh we are leaving!
I will leave the country for them
Les médisants, on y va, vous les médisants
Les médisants, on part, on y va
Pour célébrer les morts,
Vous devez quitter le terrain
Pour célébrer les morts
Laissez-nous la place
3) Kouzen, 6m'ap travay o!
Kouzen, m'ap travay o!
Azaka Mede m a pral fè yo tande
Kouzen m'ap travay o!
Azaka Mede m a pral fè yo tande
Kouto7 digo nan meèn m
Vye ral8 fon nan dlo
M'ap sèkle
Kouto di gwo na meèn m
Vye ralfò nan do
M'ap sèkle
Azaka9 si m pran on fanm la lè
Demen m'ap jwenn yon lòt o.
Kouzen si m pran on fanm la lè
Demen m'ap jwenn yon lòt o.
3) Oh Cousin, I am working!
Oh Cousin, I am working!
Azaka Mede I am going to make them listen
Oh Cousin I am working!
Azaka Mede I am going to make them listen
My sickle is in my hand
This old bag on my back
I am clearing the field
My sickle is in my hand
This old bag on my back
I am clearing the field
Azaka if I take a woman here, by
Tomorrow I will find another one.
Oh Cousin if I take a woman here, by
Tomorrow I will find another one.
Cousin, je travaille maintenant!
Azaka Mede, ils vont m'entendre
Cousin je travaille maintenant!
Azaka Mede ils vont m'entendre
Je tiens ma faucille dans ma main
Ce vieux sac dans mon dos
Mainenant je sarcle
Azaka, si je prends femme ici
Demain j'en trouverais une autre.
5
6
7
8
9
Ceremonies for deaths and death's spirits (Guedes)
Agricultural deity
The sickle is one of the atributes of Azaka Mede; represented in his vèvè
Old bag or straw bag (dyakout), one other atributes of Azaka Mede; represented in his vèvè
Same deity family of Kouzin
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
3) Songs of Ibo
3) Songs of Ibo
Rhythm: ibo
1) Gran Èzili10 do ba e
1) Hey, Granny Ezili, my back is low
Gran Èzili
Do ba e
Yo te pale
Ou pa vle koute nou.
Mwen di Gran Èzili
Do ba e
Yo te pale
Ou pa v'le koute nou.
Te pale o ase!
Ago e!
Yo te pale o ase mèt o.
Mwen di Gran Èzili
Do ba e
Yo te pale
Ou pa vle koute nou.
Hey, great Ezili
My back is low
They spoke,
You did not want to listen to us.
Hey, great Ezili
My back is low
They spoke,
You did not want to listen to us.
Oh they spoke enough!
Agoe!
Oh they spoke enough master!
Hey, great Ezili
I back low bend in front of you
They spoke
You did not want to listen to us.
Grand-mère Ezili, je me courbe à tes pieds
On t'as parlé
Mais tu ne nous as pas écouté
On t’as supplié suffisamment
On t’as supplié suffisamment grande maîtresse
Je le répète grand-mère Ezili, je me courbe à tes
pieds
On t'as prié
Mais tu ne nous as pas écouté
2) Ibo Lele11, Ibo Lele o!
2) Ibo Lele, oh Ibo Lele!
Ibo Lele!
Ibo Lele o!
Ibo Lele, Latibonit12
Granmoun pa jwe o.
Ibo Lele!
Ibo Lele o!
Ibo Lele, Latibonit13
Granmoun pa jwe o.
Ibo Lele!
Oh Ibo Lele!
Ibo Lele,
Latibonit grown ups don’t mess around.
Ibo Lele!
Oh Ibo Lele!
Ibo Lele, adults in
Latibonit grown ups don’t mess around.
Ibo Lele
Ibo Lele ô
Ibo Lele ceux qui ont grandi dans l'Artibonite ne jouent
pas.
10 Deity of feminine beauty
11 Deity of Ibo pantheon. She's known to cry a lot. Sister of Aloumandia. Lele in ibo dialect signifies whine, to moan.
It's one attribute of Ibo Lele because she speaks only with monosyllabic words
12 River which crosses the central plateau of Haiti; she gives the name to the region
13 Haitian river who cross the island; by extension, the inhabitants of its banks
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
4) Songs of Kongo
4) Songs of Kongo
Rhythm: kongo
Woule kongo a pou mwen
Roll the Kongo for me
Woule kongo a pou mwen.
Nan dòmi m te ye.
Woule kongo a pou mwen.
Roll the Kongo for me.
I was asleep.
Roll the Kongo for me.
Woule kongo a pou mwen.
Nan dòmi m te ye.
Woule kongo a pou mwen.
Roll the Kongo for me.
I was asleep.
Roll the Kongo for me.
Se liminen m t ap liminen!
Se lapriyè m t ap lapriyè!
Nan Ginen14 m te ye
Lwa kongo a moute mwen.
Nan dòmi m te ye.
Lwa kongo a moute mwen.
I was really celebrating!
I was really praying!
I was in Ginen
When the Kongo Lwa mounted me.
I was asleep.
The Kongo Lwa mounted me.
Fais-jouer le congo pour moi!
J’étais en sommeil
C'est fini, je me réveille
C’est la prière, je me recueille
En Guinée j'étais
Loas congo, possédez-moi!
J’étais en sommeil
Loas congo, possédez-moi!
5) Songs of Mayi15
1) Kay16 Lwa m kraze
Kay Lwa m kraze
Ki kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo?
Kay Lwa m kraze
Ki kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo?
Kay Lwa m kraze!
Kay Lwa m kraze o!
M bezwen kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo.
5) Songs of Mayi
Rhythm: mayi
1) The house of my Lwa is destroyed
The house of my Lwa is destroyed
Where will I house these Lwa?
The house of my Lwa is destroyed.
Where will I house these Lwa?
The house of my Lwa is broken!
Oh the house of my Lwa is broken!
I need a place to house these Lwa.
14 Country of Guinea; by extension, Africa, the lost eden
15 According to sources, the written forms differs: mayi, maji. Mayi signifies corn, and maji is majic. In both cases and
in this context, the word definies a rythm and vodou dance. It refers too with ethnic group of mahi, neighboors of
fón peoples in Dahomey. Mayi sequence, fast and short, is performed after a yanvalou. It has for role to chase away
a lwa, to ending a possesion.
16 The word possesses several meanings: the house of habitation, foyer, temple
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
La demeure des mes loas est ruinée
Où vais-je maintenant les garder ?
Il me faut une demeure pour les protéger
2) Èzili Dantò prete'm poulèt
2) Èzili Dantò lend me the chicken
Èzili Dantò17
Prete m poulèt poul nwa ou a18
Pou m fè maji19 a mache.
Se ou k mache.
Se ou ki wè.
Se ou k mache.
Se ou ki wè o!
Èzili Dantò
Prete m poulèt poul nwa ou a
Pou m fè maji a mache.
Èzili Dantò
Lend me your black chicken
So I can make the magic work.
It is you who walks.
It is you who sees.
It is you who walks.
Oh it is you who sees!
Èzili Dantò
Lend me your black chicken
So I can make the magic work.
Èzili Dantò
Prêtez-moi votre poule noire
Pour que cette magie soit efficace
C'est vous qui marchez
C'est vous qui voyez
C'est vous qui marchez
C'est vous qui voyez, ô!
Èzili Dantò
Prêtez-moi votre poule noire
Pour que cette magie soit efficace
3) Oh my Lwa Ezili Achade
3) Èzili o achade Lwa mwen
Èzili o Achade Lwa mwen!
Danbala Wèdo sa rèd o!
Èzili o Achade Lwa mwen
Danbala Wèdo sa rèd o!
Pa manje kokoye.
Pa fimen sigarèt.
Pa manje kokoye.
Pa fimen sigarèt.
Pa manje anana.
Kouman lajan m fè manke?
Oh my Lwa Ezili Achade!
Danbala Wèdo it is hard to bear!
Oh my Lwa Ezili Achade!
Danbala Wèdo it is hard to bear!
Don’t eat coconuts.
Don’t smoke cigarettes.
Don’t eat coconuts.
Don’t smoke cigarettes.
Don’t eat pineapples.
How come my money is missing?
O Ezili achade mon dieu!
Danbala Wèdo je n'en peux plus!
O Ezili achade mon loa!
Danbala Wèdo je n'en peux plus!
Je n'ai pas de noix de coco à manger
Ni cigarettes à fumer
Ni d'ananas non plus
Comment se fait-il que l'argent me manque tant?
17 Petro deity of female values
18 The ask to Èzili to lend his black chicken is a manner to ask her to accept this animal sacrifice
19 Notice the word trick with maji or mayi rythm
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
6) Songs of Nago
6) Songs of Nago
1) Salye Nago Obatala
1) Greet Nago Obatala
Rhythm: nago grankou
Salye Nago Obatala20!
Mèt la rive Obatala.
Salye Nago Obatala.
Mèt la rive Obatala.
Greet Nago Obatala!
The master has arrived Obatala!
Greet Nago Obatala.
The master has arrived Obatala.
Li lè, li tan Obatala!
Li lè, li tan Obatala!
It is time, it is time Obatala!
It is time, it is time Obatala!
Salye Nago
O Nago rive o!
Greet Nago,
Oh Nago has arrived!
Acueillez Nago Obatala!
O maître Obatala est arrivé!
Acueillez Nago Obatala!
O maître Obatala est arrivé!
Il est l'heure, il est temps, Obatala!
Il est l'heure, il est temps, Obatala!
Acueillez Nago Obatala!
O maître Obatala est arrivé!
2) Nago mwen la Nago e
2) Hey Nago I am here Nago
Rhythm: nago cho
Nago mwen la Nago e!
Nago mwen la Nago e!
Nou prale wè li
Isi n'ap pase wè w
Nou prale wè li
Isi n'ap pase wè w
Hey Nago I am here Nago!
Hey Nago I am here Nago!
We are going to see him.
We will come visit you here
We are going to see him
We will come visit you here
Hé Nago, je suis là Nago!
Hé Nago, je suis là Nago!
Nous allons bientôt le voir
Il va venir nous visiter
20 Deity of Nago pantheon. Obatala is the creator of human bodies in yoruba culture
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
7) Songs of Petwo
7) Songs of Petwo
Rhythm: petwo
1) Sodo21 m prale
Sodo22 m prale.
An verite Bondye!
Sodo m gen pou m' ale.
Sodo m prale.
Anverite Bondye!
Sodo m gen pou m' ale.
Limen balèn pou mwen m prale.
Trase vèvè a pou mwen m prale.
Sesil o!
Vyièj Mirak 23o fè m demann m
prale.
Sesil o!
Vyièj Mirak o fè m demann m prale24.
Anye anye o, o anye o!
Anye anye o, o anye o !
Anye anye o, m' p ap pou wè la
kondisyon!
Anye anye o, m' p ap pou wè la
kondisyon!
1) I am going to Sodo
I am going to Sodo.
Truthfully, God!
I need to go to Sodo
I am going to Sodo.
Truthfully, God!
I need to go to Sodo.
Light a candle for me, I need to go.
Trace a vèvè for me, I need to go.
Oh Cecil!
Oh Miracle Virgin make a demand, I am leaving.
Oh Cecil!
Oh Miracle Virgin make a demand, I am going.
Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah!
Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah!
Oh yeah oh yeah, I will not see the condition!
Oh yeah oh yeah, I will not see the condition!
2) Kay sa se kay Lwa mwen
2) This house is the house of my Lwa
Kay sa
Se kay Lwa mwen.
Demambre25 sa
Se demambre manman mwen.
Kay sa
Se kay Lwa mwen.
Demambre sa
Se demambre manman mwen.
Kay la kraze Lwa toujou la e!
This house
Is the house of my Lwa.
This Vodou ground
Is ground of my mother.
This house
Is the house of my Lwa.
This Vodou altar
Is the altar of my mother.
Hey the house was destroyed, the Lwa are still here!
A Saut d’ Eau je vais
Je le jure devant Dieu
A Saut d’ Eau j'irais
A Saut d’ Eau je pars
Je le jure devant Dieu
A Saut d’ Eau j'irais
Allumes un cierge pour moi
Traces un vèvè
Je dois me hâter
Ô Cécile!
La vierge miraculeuse m’a fait une demande
Je dois y aller
Je dois y aller, anye anye o!
Quelles qu'en soient les conditions!
21 Place of pilgrimage of central plateau, near Mirebalais.
22 Or Seau d' Eau, or Ville Bonheur, is near Mirebalais, in central plateau of Haiti. Its one of the famous vodou pligrim
sites. Near this village, there's two water falls, known one for Danbala, one other for Ayida Wèdo.
23 The vision of the virgin his knowns to appears several times. It's one of the syncretic aspect between vodou's spirits
and christian's symbolic
24 Virgin is supposed to have appeared to him in dreams, to make a request. It's frequent for vodou's peoples to makes
dreams in wich a spirit makes a demand.
25 Synonymous with sacred ground in Vodou because the ancestors are buried there and trees for the lwa are also
present.
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
Kay la kraze Lwa toujou la o Bondye!
Kay sa
Se kay Lwa mwen.
Demambre sa
Se demambre manman mwen.
Oh the house was destroyed, the Lwa are still here oh
God!
This house is the house of my Lwa.
This Vodou ground is ground of my mother.
Cette demeure
Est celle de mes loas
C’est la terre
La terre de ma mère
Cette demeure
Est celle de mes dieux
C’est la terre
La terre de ma mère
Même si elle est en ruine
Cette demeure est éternelle pour eux
Cette demeure est en ruine
Mais les loas sont encore là
3) Kay Lwa m kraze
3) The house of my Lwa is destroyed
Kay Lwa m kraze.
Ki kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo?
Kay Lwa m kraze.
Ki kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo?
Kay Lwa m kraze.
Kay Lwa m kraze o!
M bezwen kote pou m mete Lwa sa yo.
The house of my Lwa is destroyed.
Where will I house these Lwa?
The house of my Lwa is destroyed.
Where will I house these Lwa?
The house of my Lwa is destroyed.
Oh the house of my Lwa is broken!
I need a place to house these Lwa.
La demeure des mes dieux est ruinée
Où vais-je maintenant les garder ?
La demeure des mes dieux est ruinée
Où vais-je maintenant les garder ?
Elle est cassée
Ô, elle est cassée!
Il me faut une demeure pour les protéger.
8) Songs of Twarigòl
8) Songs of Twarigòl
Rhythm: twarigol
1) Te di o sa e o Chalewam26
1) Oh told them this Chalewam
Te di o sa e o Chalewam!
Te di o sa e o Chalewam!
Chalewam te di o sa e o Chalewam!
Ou pa wè kay la pran dife?
Chalewam te di o sa e o Chalewam!
Ou pa wè kay la pran dife27?
Oh told them this Chalewam!
Oh told them this Chalewam!
Chalewam told them this, oh Chalewam!
Don’t you see that the house caught on fire?
Chalewam told them this oh Chalewam!
Don’t you see that the house caught fire?
26 The kreyol side of this french name is a phonetic adaptation. In French, Charleroi is a town of Belgium. There's a lot
of people names in Caribean area wich depends of the region of the europeans masters.
27 It makes differents senses: primary, a fire; secondly, the urgency to react
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
Je te le dis, ô Charleroi
Je te le dis, ô Charleroi
Charleroi, je te le dis, ô Charleroi
Ne voyez -vous pas que la maison est en feu?
Charleroi, je te le dis, ô Charleroi
Ne voyez -vous pas que la maison est en feu?
2) Anye Papa Ogou28 e
Anye Papa Ogou e!
Anye Papa Ogou e e e!
Anye Papa Ogou e!
O twa mouchwa pou m mare vant mwen.
Anye Papa Ogou e!
Anye Papa Ogou e e e!
Anye Papa Ogou e!
M bezwen twa mouchwa pou m mare vant mwen.
2) Oh yeah Papa Ogou
Oh yeah hey Papa Ogou!
Oh yeah hey hey hey Papa Ogou!
Oh yeah hey Papa Ogou!
Oh three scarves to bind my stomach.
Oh yeah hey Papa Ogou!
Oh yeah hey hey hey Papa Ogou!
Oh yeah hey Papa Ogou!
I need three scarves to bind my
stomach.
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Trois mouchoirs à nouer autour de mon ventre
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Oh oui Papa Ogou hé!
Donnes moi
J'ai besoin de trois mouchoirs autour de mon ventre
3) Pate la o mwen rive
3) Oh I was not here, I have arrived
Pate la o mwen rive!
Pate la o mwen rentre!
M' ape mande,
Konbyen gangan k'ap fè,
sèvis Lwa nan lakou a?
Pale langaj, kè yo sote.
M' ape mande,
Konbyen gangan k'ap fè,
Sèvis Lwa nan lakou a?
Pale langaj kè yo
sote.
Oh I was not here, I arrived!
Oh I was not here, I arrived!
I am asking
How many gangan are
Serving the Lwa in the yard?
Speak ritual language and they are shocked.
I am asking
How many gangan are
serving the Lwa in the yard?
Speak ritual language and they are shocked.
J’étais absent, maintenant je suis là
J’étais absent, maintenant je suis là
Je te demande instamment
Combien il y a t-il de prêtres içi dans la cour
Parlant le langage des loas, pour le service religieux?
Je te demande instamment
Combien il y a t-il de prêtres içi dans la cour
Parlant le langage des loas, pour le service religieux?
28 Father in Ogou's spirit family. They represent defense, force, war and metallurgy
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
9) Vodou kouran
9) Songs of Common Vodou
Rhythm: vodou couran
1) Janbe dlo a mwen pa mouye
1) Crossed the water and I did not get wet
Janbe dlo a
Mwen pa mouye.
Janbe dlo a
Mwen pa mouye.
Gade mwen janbe tou sa
Mwen pa mouye
Lawoze mouye pye mwen.
Crossed the water
And I did not get wet.
Crossed the water
And I did not get wet.
Look I crossed all of this
I did not get wet
Dew wet my feet.
J'enjambe les eaux
Sans me mouiller
J'enjambe les eaux
Sans me mouiller
Regardez-moi enjamber tout cela
Même la rosée glisse sous mes pieds
2) Ayizan Danbala zanj yo
Ayizan, Danbala29 zanj yo!
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo zanj yo!
Se yon Lwa k mete m isi a e!
Se yon Lwa k mete m isi!
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo
Dan se zo!
3) Ayizan Danbala the angels
Ayizan, Danbala the angels!
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo the angels!
Hey a Lwa put me here!
A Lwa put me here!
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo
Teeth are bones!
Ayizan, Danbala, mes anges!
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo, mes anges!
Hé, c'est un loa qui m'a mis içi
C'est un loa qui m'y a mis
Ayizan, Danbala Wèdo
Les dents ce sont des os!
3) Pran la mete la pou mwen
3) Take here put here for me
Pran la mete la pou mwen30.
Pran la mete la pou mwen.
Agawou31 konble,
Nou pa sèvi Dyab ankò.
Pou aprann la mete la pou mwen' m prale!
Take it all and put here for me.
Take it all and put here for me.
Agawou is filled,
We no longer serve the spirits.
To learn here put it here so that I can go!
Prends tout et dépose-le là pour moi
Prends tout et dépose-le là pour moi
Agawou est comblé
Qu'on ne serve plus Dyab
Que tu apprennes à le servir pour quand je ne serai
plus là!
29 Ayizan and Danbala are the most important lwas of rada's pantheon
30 It's speaking of a sèvis lwa (a loa ceremony) with this manner to dispose offrand on the altar
31 Lwa of rada and petro rites, represented by storms, earthquakes and thunder.
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
10) Songs of Yanvalou
10) Songs of Yanvalou
Rhythm: yanvalou
1) Danbala mwen Lwa koulèv la e
1) Hey Danbala I am the snake Lwa
Danbala men Lwa koulèv la e!
Danbala men Lwa koulèv la ba l siwo o !
Danbala men Lwa koulèv la e!
Danbala men Lwa koulèv la ba l siwo o !
Hey Danbala I am the snake Lwa!
Oh Danbala I am the snake Lwa give him syrup!
Hey Danbala I am the snake Lwa!
Oh Danbala I am the snake Lwa give him syrup!
2) Woule m a woule Danbala Wèdo
Woule m a woule,
Danbala Wèdo!
Woule m a woule Danbala!
Men Lwa koulèv o.
C'est moi Danbala, le loa couleuvre
C'est moi Danbala, le loa couleuvre, donnes-moi du
sirop!
C'est moi Danbala, le loa couleuvre
C'est moi Danbala, le loa couleuvre, donnes-moi du
sirop!
2) I will roll Danbala Wèdo
I will roll on the ground
Danbala Wèdo!
I will roll on the ground Danbala!
Oh here is the snake Lwa.
Je me traîne sur le sol,
Danbala Wèdo
Je rampe sur le sol Danbala,
Te voici venir, ô mon loi couleuvre!
3) Sot anba m'ap monte
3) I was coming from below
Sot anba 32m'ap monte.
Mwen kwaze madanm lan dlo nan je.
Sot anba m'ap monte.
Mwen kwaze madanm lan dlo nan je.
Madanm o pa kriye!
Madanm o pa rele!
Je demande ou so33
Sot anba m'ap monte.
Mwen kwaze madanm lan dlo nan je.
Sot anba m'ap monte.
Mwen kwaze madanm lan dlo nan je.
Madanm o pa kriye!
Marenn o konsole!
Sa se bèl fèt o!
I was coming from below.
I found the woman in tears.
I was coming from below.
I found the woman in tears.
Oh woman don’t cry!
Oh woman don’t cry!
I thus ask you waterfall.
I was coming from below.
I found the woman in tears.
I was coming from below.
I found the woman in tears.
Oh woman don’t cry!
Godmother console yourself!
Oh it is a beautiful celebration!
32 Or En bas palme, one of the three sacred spots of Seau d'Eau Ville Bonheur. It's known as one of the place where
appears Vièj Mirak (Virgin of Miracle)
33 One of the two waterfalls of Seau d'eau where leaves vodou spirits
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Vodou songs of Mirebalais © D.Mirabeau
En remontant le chemin, je vous croise
En train de nager dans vos larmes.
Madame ne pleurez pas!
Madame consolez vous!
Marraine courage!
Je vous le demande, chute d'eau
En remontant de Seau d'en Bas
Je vous croise en train de nager dans vos larmes.
Madame ne pleurez pas!
Madame consolez vous!
Marraine courage!
Car ce sera une belle fête!
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