The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Fò tout moun yo kanpe
Fè youn bagay serye
Se sa n reklame
Se kondisyon yo k fè lit la pa mache
Yo toujou lwen lè tout desizyon vote
An dènye lye kesyon yo rete kroke
Eksplikasyon yo nan oun langay konplike
Kou l gon w jou libete
Se awoyo l chante se banbou l soufle
Madigra je wont je baton k fè l mache
Yo fè l konnen lavil an ran moun kanpe
Konbit lakay li tout moun fè sa yo vle
Te l tann vandredi sen la va paweze
Oun pyas fò l bay pou l konfese
Gwo lajan pou sitwayennte
Baton jiska prezan si l fatige
Bèt lavi ya se sa li ye
Mwen lan salon m konpoze chante
M ap tradui dè zide de franse
Fè moun bat bravo m konn imajine
Kondisyon pèp l ap anpire
Swasann senk an pase
Di kijan sa te ye si nou pa odasye
Manchèt lanbi banbou se sa k te pale
Lèzide te rete lakay moun serye
Nèg pat pran batiman nevi pou noye
Batravil chalmay moun sa yo pat ranse
Ay que les temps ont changé
Revolisyon pa ka fèt momantane
Nèg ap panse e mizè ap anpire
Lòm ap di ke le pèp pa òganize
Kom si li pa grangou pou l fè sa chanje
Bwa fouye refijye komès ap mache
Kom si li pa grangou pou l fè sa chanje
Bwa fouye refijye komès
Fè youn bagay serye
Se sa n reklame
Se kondisyon yo k fè lit la pa mache
Yo toujou lwen lè tout desizyon vote
An dènye lye kesyon yo rete kroke
Eksplikasyon yo nan oun langay konplike
Kou l gon w jou libete
Se awoyo l chante se banbou l soufle
Madigra je wont je baton k fè l mache
Yo fè l konnen lavil an ran moun kanpe
Konbit lakay li tout moun fè sa yo vle
Te l tann vandredi sen la va paweze
Oun pyas fò l bay pou l konfese
Gwo lajan pou sitwayennte
Baton jiska prezan si l fatige
Bèt lavi ya se sa li ye
Mwen lan salon m konpoze chante
M ap tradui dè zide de franse
Fè moun bat bravo m konn imajine
Kondisyon pèp l ap anpire
Swasann senk an pase
Di kijan sa te ye si nou pa odasye
Manchèt lanbi banbou se sa k te pale
Lèzide te rete lakay moun serye
Nèg pat pran batiman nevi pou noye
Batravil chalmay moun sa yo pat ranse
Ay que les temps ont changé
Revolisyon pa ka fèt momantane
Nèg ap panse e mizè ap anpire
Lòm ap di ke le pèp pa òganize
Kom si li pa grangou pou l fè sa chanje
Bwa fouye refijye komès ap mache
Kom si li pa grangou pou l fè sa chanje
Bwa fouye refijye komès
Lyrics submitted by Lunes
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Version créole de "Chalmay Peralt".
Ses paroles écrites n’ont rien à voir avec ce que dit Manno Charlemagne dans la version française.