Haïti Chérie
"Haïti Chérie" (pronounced: [aiti ʃɛri]: My Dear Haiti) is a traditional patriotic song of Haiti. Written and composed by Dr. Othello Bayard de Cayes and initially called "Souvenir d'Haiti," it represents the pride Haitian people feel for their country and culture. Within the Haitian community, at home and abroad, it is widely considered as a second national anthem.
Lyrics
- Ayiti cheri pi bon peyi pase ou nanpwen
- Fòk mwen te kite w pou mwen te kap konprann valè w
- Fòk mwen te manke w pou m te kap apresye w
- Pou m santi vreman tout sa ou te ye pou mwen
- Gen bon solèy bon rivyè e bon brevaj
- Anba pyebwa ou toujou jwenn bon lonbraj
- Gen bon ti van ki bannou bon ti frechè
- Ayiti Toma se yon peyi ki mè chè
- Lè w lan peyi blan ou gen yon vye frèt ki pa janm bon
- E tout lajounen ou oblije ap boule chabon
- Ou pakab wè klè otan syèl-la andèy
- E pandan si mwa tout pyebwa pa genyen fèy
- Lan peyi mwen gen solèy pou bay chalè
- Diran lane tout pyebwa ap bay lonbraj
- Bon briz de mè toujou soufle sou no plaj
- Ayiti Toma se yon peyi ki mè chè
- Kon w lan peyi blan ou wè tout figi yon sèl koulè
- Lanpwen milatrès bèl marabou, bèl grifonn kreyòl
- Ki renmen bèl wòb bon poud e bon odè
- Ni bèl jenn nègès ki konn di bon ti pawòl
- Lan peyi mwen lè tout bèl moun si la yo
- Sòti lan mès ou sòti lan sinema
- Se pou gade se pou rete dyòl lolo
- A la bon peyi se ti Dayiti Toma!
- Lè w lan peyi blan ou pa wè mango ni kòk di tou
- Lanpwen sapoti ni bèl kayimit vèt ou vyolèt
- Lanpwen zanana ni bèl ti pòm kajou
- Ki ban nou bon nwa pou nou fè bon ti tablèt
- Ou jwenn zoranj ki soti an Itali
- Men qui fennen qui toujou mwatye pouri
- An Ayiti sa si bon se koupe dwèt
- E sou se rapò nou bay tout peyi payèt
- Lè w lan peyi mwen kote ou pase tout lon chemen
- Se bonjou kompè e makomè e pitit la yo?
- Sa'n pa wè konsa manyen rentre ti bren
- Pou'n bwa ti kichoy pou nou jwe de ti kout zo.
- Fin bay lan men se rentre lan gran pale
- Se politik se movèz sitiyasyon
- Sa pou nou fè se pou nou pran li kou l ye
- Men bon Dye si bon la ban nou benediksyon
- Lè w ou lan peyi blan ou pè promennen nwit tankou jou
- Tout moun pè mache prese prese wa di se chen fou
- Kote yo prale pouki yap kouri konsa?
- Yo pè pèdi tan yo pa janm di: kouman sa?
- Lan peyi mwen moun pa rete avek lè
- Genyen libète ou gen tan pou pran frechè
- Kote ou pase se bonjou se bay lan men
- Moun pa janm prese yo koze tout lon chemen
- Lè w an Ayiti ou pa janm manke tan pou soufle
- Sak pa fèt jodi ou kap fè li demen si ou vle
- Kan demen rive kel bon ou kel pa bon
- Sa pa fè anyen tout moun konn di bon dye bon.
- An Ayiti moun pa janm dezespere
- Nou gen la fwa lan yon Dye ki pa janm manti
- Nap fè jodi kan demen pa asire
- A la bon peyi o mon Dye, se Ayiti!
- Haiti Chérie says Haiti is my beloved land
- Oh, I never knew that I’d have to leave you to understand
- Just how much I miss the gallant Citadel
- Where days long ago
- Brave men served this country well
- Where sun is bright or evenings with soft moonlight
- A shading tree, Creole maiden for company
- A gentle breeze, a warm caress if you please
- Work, laughter and play
- Yes, we'll always be this way
- Haiti Chérie says Haiti is my beloved land
- Oh, I never knew that I’d have to leave you to understand
- Just how much I miss the gallant Citadel
- Where days long ago, brave men served this country well
- Haiti Cherie, now I've returned to your soil so dear
- Let me hear again, the things that give music to my ear.
- The shepherd's horn that welcomes the rising morn
- When roads overflow as crowds to iron market go.
- Where sun is bright, or evenings with soft moonlight
- The shading tree, Creole maiden for company
- A gentle breeze, a warm caress if you please
- Work, laughter and play, yes we'll always be this way
Versions
- Audrey Landers, is an American actress and singer who recorded a version in 1984.
- Cornelia Schutt, known by her stage-name TiCorn, is a Haitian folk singer and songwriter recorded "Haiti Cherie in the 1960s.
- Georges Moustaki, has long maintained "Haïti Chérie" in his Francophone repertoire.
- Harry Belafonte, has recorded several versions of "Haïti Chérie" in English.