Reginald Cange and Dener Ceide, two of Haiti’s prominent musicians, have used their music to convey a powerful message in their song “Savalou.”
This piece is not just a beautiful melody, but a poignant narration of the current socio-political situation in Haiti, resonating with the shared experiences of Haitians, both within the country and abroad.
Unpacking the Lyrics: The Reality of Haiti
Reginald Cange opens the song, vividly painting Haiti’s present state of affairs.
He depicts the palpable pain and struggle felt in every corner of the country, a pain often ignored, kept at a distance, or acknowledged too late.
He emphasizes that their only opportunity is a mission for peace, a sentiment that carries the weight of the collective longing of the Haitian people.
Dener Ceide’s Powerful Verse
Ceide follows this narrative with a powerful verse. He speaks of the manipulation and control of the less privileged, schoolchildren forced into violence, and Haitians living in their homeland as though they were in exile.
He criticizes the authorities, for they should not regard their own people as enemies but should serve them.
A Reminder of Heroes and the Critique of Power
Both musicians continue to remind listeners of the heroes who fought for their country. The heroes didn’t fight for the current state of the country – a place where the daily struggles of life are overlooked while the powerful continue to amass wealth.
The words “Pase Stevie Wonder,” meaning “worse than Stevie Wonder,” are used metaphorically to reflect the intentional blindness of those in power to the societal issues surrounding them.
A Call to Action: Stop Playing with the Country
The refrain “Sispann jwe ak peyi a,” meaning “Stop playing with the country,” is a call to action. The musicians urge those in power to stop manipulating the country for their gains and start acknowledging the gravity of their actions.
The Plea for Unity
Towards the end of the song, both artists emphasize unity. They acknowledge that not everyone may agree, some may even prefer death, but they stress the beauty and potential of their nation if only some would choose to defend it.
They advocate for using Haiti’s wealth and strength to preserve its honor.
Savalou Lyrics
Savalou wi, mes chères citoyens
Sa kap pran ak sa k pa di anyen
M a doulè a la nan tout rakwen
Ou ka vle inyore l, kanpe lwen l
Li fin ta, n ap di l bonè
Sèl okazyon nou se misyon pou lapè.
Nan gran ravin, ti bwa geto yo toujou g on men
K ap manipile
Nèg ki lekòl K ap kenbe galil nan men l
San’l pa achte’l
Nan bidon vil Ayisyen ap viv an ekzil
Nan prop peyi l
Otorite, w pa ka pran pwòp pèp ou kòm enmi w
Ou la pou sèvi l
Ayisyen,
nou gen moun ki te batay
Ewo nou yo pat travay pou sa
Pou’n pat konsa, jan’n ye la
Ewo nou yo pat travay pou sa
Pa wè ou pa wè
W ap fè kòmsi w pa wè
e w konte kòb, chak jou
Ou wè, ou wè, ou wè, ou wè
Pase Stevie Wonder.
Lajistis toujou pi prese
pou trase lekzanp sou malere
Men mèt afè a ap byen sikile
se yo k pi gwo privileje
Yo fin pran epi y ale
san yo pa negosye
Peyi sila ap viv kou òfelen
nan mitan yon bann gwo je
Pa wè ou pa wè
W ap fè kòmsi w pa wè
Ou wè, ou wè, ou wè, ou wè
Pase Stevie Wonder
El maestro, pale.
Sa fè kèk tan la, n okipe men sanble sa pa deranjeFrè nou yo nan gouvernement sa’k nan gran pozisyonPifò vle pran epi y alesan yo pa negosyePeyi sila ap viv kou òfelennan mitan yon bann gwo je.
Ou la lala, Dener Ceide ki la
Sispann jwe ak peyi a, jwe ak peyi a
Sa nou wè yo bay dlo nan je
Sispann jwe ak peyi a, jwe ak peyi a
Lavi moun se bagay serye.
Wi, m ap di unissons nou pandan m konnen pami nou
Gen sak pa janm dakò, yo ta prefere lanmò
E li ta bèl si kèk nan nou
Va chwazi defann peyi nou
Pran riches nou ak fos nou
Pou’n sove lone’n
Ki le rat kay
Va sispann manje pay kay
Sispann jwe ak peyi a, jwe ak peyi a
Sa nou wè yo bay dlo nan je
Sispann jwe ak peyi a, jwe ak peyi a
Lavi moun se bagay serye.
Mwen bouke di unissons nous
Paske’m konnen pami nou
Gen sa’k pap janm dako
Yo ta prefere lanmo
Men li va bel le kek nan nou
Va chwazi met granmoun sou nou
Pran riches nou ak fos nou
Pou’n sove lone’n
Ki le rat kay
Va sispann manje pay kay
Zafe’m Lage’l
N’al Chache’l
Woy
La vi an vwayaj
men penitans gen jou’l
M’pa ka kont peso’n o
Paske nou tout se fre
men verite pa zanmi
Moun ki annafe
Sou’w we’m an kole
Se le’m we Fanmim yo
Jan yap jwe ak la vi yo
M’pa ka kont peso’n o
Paske nou tout se fre
verite pa zanmi
Moun ki annafe
Si’w ta va remake’m an kole
Sou we’m an kole
Se le’m gad Fanmi’m yo
M’we jan yap manipile yo
Nou gon misyon
