Oh Amanman
For a very long time, Haiti has been going through a lot of turmoil. If it’s not nature disasters, it’s political issues. Around 2017 I was moved by a picture of a female merchant who was crying after her products were destroyed by a group of protestors. I saw it while scrolling through Facebook timeline. The picture moved me because I saw so much pain in her eyes. I had an understanding of what she was going through. A mother who was doing the best that she can to provide for her kids, in a country that doesn’t offer many options. The one thing she could use to earn some few bucks is now destroyed and don’t know when she will have money again to make any more purchases. The lady I saw inspired me to write this song about the whole country. Its condition caused a lot it’s citizens to die or to leave it for another country. So, this song is like a prayer, asking God to change the state of the country for the sake of the mothers, fathers, kids who are growing up.
The word momma in the song represents both mothers in the country itself.
English traslation
Creole lyrics
Chorus 1:
I say oh momma
I said oh momma
When I see you suffering
Tears want to fall down from my eyes
It makes me want to cry
Because I can’t bear to see you suffer again, again
Verse 1:
When you look at your kids in their eyes
And you can’t feed them
You don’t have a job because the country refuse to advance
Earthquake came and it destroys everything you have
It destroys everything you have
The hurricane came and it destroys everything you have
The rioters (protestors) in the street burning and destroying everything you have
Chorus2:
I say oh momma
I said oh momma
When I see you suffering
Tears want to fall down from my eyes
It makes me want to cry
Because I can’t bear to see you suffer again, again
Verse2:
To another country my father said he will travel
Among those who leave if they don’t drown in water, wild animal kill them
Among those who make it, they deport them
Among those who make it, they mistreat them
Among those who make it, they don’t find a job
When they find a job, it’s a bad job
Chorus 3:
I say oh momma
I said oh momma
When I see you suffering
Tears want to fall down from my eyes
It makes me want to cry
Because I can’t bear to see you suffer again, again
Verse 3:
I get on my knees so I can pray for Haiti
Because in the position that it’s in
It cause a lot of people to die
Please God say a word
change the heart of the evildoers
Please God say a word
change the heart of the leaders
God, Please say a word
Because if you don’t say a word
The kids will die
The mothers will suffer
Chorus 4:
I say oh momma
I said oh momma
When I see you suffering
Tears want to fall down from my eyes
It makes me want to cry
Because I can’t bear to see you suffer again, again
Chorus 1:
Mwen di oh manman,
Mwen di oh manman
Le mwen wè ou ap soufri
Fe dlo vle toube nan je’m
Fe mwen anvi kriye
Paske mwen paka we’ou soufri anko anko, anko
Verse1:
lè ou gade piti’ou nan je
Ou pa ka bal manje
Ou pa gen tavay
Paske Peyi sa li menm li pa avanse
tranbleman tè a vini li kraze tout bagay ou genyen
li kraze tout bagay ou genyen
Siklòn nan vini li kraze tout bagay ou genyen
Pèp la nan lari a ap kraze tout bagay ou genyen
Chorus2:
Mwen di oh manman,
Mwen di oh manman
Le mwen wè ou ap soufri
Fe dlo vle toube nan je’m
Fe mwen anvi kriye
Paske mwen paka we’ou soufri anko anko anko
Verse2:
Nan yon lòt peyi, Papa’m di li pral vwayaje
Nan sak ale yo si yo pa mouri nan dlo bet manje
Nan sak ki rive yo, Yo depote yo
Nan sak rive yo, Yo maltrete yo
Nan sak rive yo, Yo pa jwenn travay
Lè yo jwen travay, Se move travay
Chorus 3:
Mwen di oh manman,
Mwen di oh manman
Le mwen wè ou ap soufri
Fe dlo vle toube nan je’m
Fe mwen anvi kriye
Paske mwen paka we’ou soufri anko anko anko
Verse 3:
Mete’m a jenou pou ka priye pou Ayiti
Paske nan posisyon li ye a
Li fe anpil moun ap mouri
Bondye di yon mo
Chanje ke malfetè yo
Bondye di yon mo
Chanje kè dirijan yo
Bondye di yon mo
Paske si ou pa di yon mo
Petit yo ap mouri
Manman yo ap soufri
Chorus 4:
Mwen di oh manman,
Mwen di oh manman
Le mwen wè ou ap soufri
Fe dlo vle toube nan je’m
Fe mwen anvi kriye
Paske mwen paka we’ou soufri anko anko anko