Depi M Soti Lan Ginen

Renowned Haitian musician Erol Josué was born into the Vodou tradition and initiated at 17 years of age as a Houngan (Vodou priest). Part of a larger project by Haiti Lab Co-Director Laurent Dubois and Erol Josué to create an online audio-visual archive of Vodou song, this performance was recorded during Josué's recent visit to the FHI. Thanks to Lab intern Zack Green of Green Media for the recording, Lab faculty and linguist Jacques Pierre for the transcription of the creole lyrics, and Laurent and Erol for the English translation.

Lyrics in Haitian Creole:

Depi m soti nan ginen, moun y ape sonde mwen
Se mwen-menm (w osin o) rasin o
Depi m soti nan ginen, moun y ape sonde mwen
O se mwen-menm, o gwo wòch o!
M soti an ba dlo, mwen vole "dans les airs" dan lèzè (an lè)
Kou yo kwè yo pran mwen, m tounen lafimen o
Jou yo konnen sa m sèvi, latè va tranble
Jou yo konnen non vanyan mwen, loray va gwonde
O se mwen-menm, o rasin o!
Depi m soti nan ginen, moun y ape sonde mwen
O se mwen-menm, O rasin o !
M soti an ba dlo, mwen vole "dans les airs" dan lèzè (an lè)
Kou yo kwè yo pran mwen, m tounen lafimen o
Jou yo konnen non vanyan m, latè va tranble, ey
Jou yo konnen sa m sèvi, loray va gwonde
Se mwen-menm, O rasin o!
M di se mwen-menm, o gwo wòch o.

Here's a rough English translation:

Since I left Africa, people have been testing me
I am the root
Since I left Africa, people have been testing me
I am a great rock
I came from under the water, I fly up into the sky
When they thought they captured me, I turned to smoke
When they find out who I serve, the earth will tremble
When they learn my real name, the storm will thunder
I am the root
Since I left Africa, people have been testing me
I am the root
Since I left Africa, people have been testing me
I am a great rock
I came from under the water, I fly up into the sky
When they thought they captured me, I turned to smoke
When they find out who I serve, the earth will tremble
When they learn my real name, the storm will thunder
I am the root
I am a great rock