From verse "Nan mitan yon chan kann bò igwe an Dominikani":
Viejo (Elder)
Lyrics and music by Jean Claude Martineau / Koralen
Translated into English by Jean Winer Pascal (July 27, 2020)
In a sugarcane field by Higüey
in Dominican Republic
two Haïtians sit in a Batey
barefooted, bare chested
There is one talking, one’s listening
so softly, soundlessly
only the wind comes close to listen
what they’re saying.
Cousin, you’re going to Haïti
there’s a commission, which I’m sending to my wife
Cousin, it’s ten dollars
My dear cousin, when you do arrive home
If my wife is shacking up
give it to my mother for me.
The cousin went, cousin came back
unpleasant news that tear the heart
Mother is dead, it has been a long while
Many have said, it’s from shagreen
Your wife is there, she’s holding on
and the children are all struggling
The first one’s grown like a wild horse
the last one does not remember his Dad.
In a sugarcane field by Higüey
in Dominican Republic
Two Haïtians sit in a Batey
barefooted, bare chested
There is one talking, one’s listening
so softly, soundlessly
this time around, the wind erases
what they were saying.
Cousin, I came back from Haïti
there is a message that your wife has sent for you
My dear cousin, it’s time to go back
Beloved cousin
When crossing the borders
Even if you don’t bring nothing
don’t leave your machete behind.
Cousin, Cousin, Cousin
You’ll bring your machete
To cut the wicked trees, woy
Please bring your machete
just to cut all the tares, woy.
From verse "Nan mitan yon chan kann bò igwe an Dominikani":
Viejo (Elder) Lyrics and music by Jean Claude Martineau / Koralen Translated into English by Jean Winer Pascal (July 27, 2020)
In a sugarcane field by Higüey in Dominican Republic two Haïtians sit in a Batey barefooted, bare chested There is one talking, one’s listening so softly, soundlessly only the wind comes close to listen what they’re saying.
Cousin, you’re going to Haïti there’s a commission, which I’m sending to my wife Cousin, it’s ten dollars My dear cousin, when you do arrive home If my wife is shacking up give it to my mother for me.
The cousin went, cousin came back unpleasant news that tear the heart Mother is dead, it has been a long while Many have said, it’s from shagreen Your wife is there, she’s holding on and the children are all struggling The first one’s grown like a wild horse the last one does not remember his Dad.
In a sugarcane field by Higüey in Dominican Republic Two Haïtians sit in a Batey barefooted, bare chested There is one talking, one’s listening so softly, soundlessly this time around, the wind erases what they were saying.
Cousin, I came back from Haïti there is a message that your wife has sent for you My dear cousin, it’s time to go back Beloved cousin When crossing the borders Even if you don’t bring nothing don’t leave your machete behind.
Cousin, Cousin, Cousin You’ll bring your machete To cut the wicked trees, woy Please bring your machete just to cut all the tares, woy.