Haïti Chérie

"Haïti Chérie" (: Dear Haiti) is a traditional patriotic song of Haiti of a poem written by Othello Bayard that was initially called it Souvenir d'Haïti ("Memory of Haiti") and composed to music in 1925. It is widely considered as a second national anthem, and one of Haiti's most famous méringues.

Lyrics

 * Ayiti cheri pi bon peyi pase ou nanpwen
 * Fòk mwen te kite w pou mwen te kapab konprann valè w
 * Fòk mwen te lese w pou m te k ap apresye w
 * Pou m santi vrèman tout sa ou te ye pou mwen


 * Gen bon solèy bon rivyè e bon brevaj
 * Anba pyebwa ou toujou jwenn bon lonbraj
 * Gen bon ti van ki bannou bon ti frechè
 * Ayiti Toma se yon peyi ki mè chè


 * Lè w lan peyi blan ou gen yon vye frèt ki pa janm bon
 * E tout lajounen ou oblije ap boule chabon
 * Ou pakab wè klè otan syèl la andèy
 * E pandan si mwa tout pyebwa pa genyen fèy


 * Lan peyi mwen gen solèy pou bay chalè
 * Diran lane tout pyebwa ap bay lonbraj
 * Bon briz de mè toujou soufle sou nos plaj
 * Ayiti Toma se yon peyi ki mè chè


 * Kon w lan peyi blan ou wè tout figi yon sèl koulè
 * Lanpwen milatrès bèl marabou, bèl grifonn kreyòl
 * Ki renmen bèl wòb bon poud e bon odè
 * Ni bèl jenn nègès ki konn di bon ti pawòl
 * Lan peyi mwen lè tout bèl moun si la yo
 * Sòti lan mès ou sòti lan sinema
 * Se pou gade se pou rete dyòl lolo
 * A la bon peyi se ti Dayiti Toma!
 * Lè w lan peyi blan ou pa wè mango ni kòk di tou
 * Lanpwen sapoti ni bèl kayimit vèt ou vyolèt
 * Lanpwen zanana ni bèl ti pòm kajou
 * Ki ban nou bon nwa pou nou fè bon ti tablèt
 * Ou jwenn zoranj ki sòti an Itali
 * Men ki fennen ki toujou mwatye pouri
 * An Ayiti sa si bon se koupe dwèt
 * E sou se rapò nou bay tout peyi payèt
 * Lè w lan peyi mwen kote ou pase tout lon chemen
 * Se bonjou konpè e makomè e pitit la yo?
 * Sa n pa wè konsa manyen rantre ti bren
 * Pou n bwa ti kichòy pou nou jwe de ti kout zo.
 * Fin bay lan men se rantre lan gran pale
 * Se politik se movèz sitiyasyon
 * Sa pou nou fè se pou nou pran li kou l ye
 * Men bon Dye si bon la ban nou benediksyon
 * Lè w ou lan peyi blan ou pè pwomennen nuit tankou jou
 * Tout moun pè mache prese prese wa di se chen fou
 * Kote yo prale pouki y ap kouri konsa?
 * Yo pè pèdi tan yo pa janm di: kouman sa?
 * Lan peyi mwen moun pa rete avèk lè
 * Genyen libète ou gen tan pou pran frechè
 * Kote ou pase se bonjou se bay lan men
 * Moun pa janm prese yo koze tout lon chemen
 * Lè w an Ayiti ou pa janm manke tan pou soufle
 * Sak pa fèt jodi ou k ap fè li demen si ou vle
 * Kan demen rive ke l bon ou kel pa bon
 * Sa pa fè anyen tout moun konn di bon dye bon.
 * An Ayiti moun pa janm dezespere
 * Nou gen la fwa lan yon Dye ki pa janm manti
 * N ap fè jodi kan demen pa asire
 * A la bon peyi o mon Dye, se Ayiti!


 * Haiti Chérie translates to(translation corrected by @growninhaiti):
 * Haiti, my beloved, no other land is more beautiful than you.
 * I had to leave you, in order to better understand how valuable you are
 * I had to leave you, for me to appreciate you
 * So I could truly feel all that you were for me
 * There is sunshine, nice rivers and great drinks
 * Underneath the trees, you'll always find great shade
 * Where you'll find a gentle breeze to keep you cool
 * Haiti, is a country dear to me
 * In the white man's land, you're freezing and it's never good
 * And all day, you're forced to burn coal
 * You can't see clearly because the sky is always dark
 * And for 6 months, all trees are without leaves
 * In my country, there is sunshine to provide heat
 * All year long, the trees continue to provide shade
 * A soft breeze always blowing on our beaches
 * Haiti, is a country dear to me
 * Once in the white man's country, all faces are one color
 * There is no variety such as our different shades of Kreyòl (Milatrès, Marabou, and Grifonn)
 * That love beautiful dresses, powders and fine scents
 * Nor black beauties that know the sweetest things to say
 * In my country, when all of these beautiful people leave church, it's like going to the movies
 * you have to see this, you would remain wide mouthed and open eyed
 * What an amazing country Haiti is!
 * When you're in the white man's country, you don't see mangoes or roosters anywhere
 * Neither sapoti or beautiful green and purple star apples
 * Neither pineapples or beautiful cashew apples
 * that give us great cashews to make delicious brittle with
 * You'll find oranges that came from Italy
 * But that are passed ripe and half rotten
 * In Haiti, everything is finger licking good!
 * And on that note, we're better than any other country
 * When you're in my country, wherever you go and along your path it's: "hello sir" "hello miss" "how are the kids?"
 * without knowing, you're invited in for a drink and to play some games.
 * Every handshake invites a conversation
 * Its politics, it's a bad situation
 * what we need to do is accept it how it is
 * If God is good, he will grant us salvation
 * When you're in the white man's country, you're afraid to go out day or night
 * Everyone is walking so fast that you'd think they're crazy dogs
 * Where are they going? Why are they running?
 * They in such a hurry that they never stop to ask how you're doing
 * In my country, people don't go by time
 * You have the liberty to take your time
 * Wherever you go, it's "hello" and friendly handshakes
 * People are never in a rush, we chat along our path
 * When you're in Haiti, you always have enough time to whistle
 * what doesn't get done today, can get done tomorrow if you want
 * If tomorrow works, cool... If it doesn't... cool.
 * It doesn't matter, everyone knows that God is good
 * In Haiti, people are never desperate
 * we trust in a God that never lies
 * We'll do whatever we can today, because tomorrow is never certain
 * What a great country, my God! It's Haiti!

Versions

 * Audrey Landers, is an American actress and singer who recorded a version in 1984.
 * Cornelia Schutt, known by her stage-name TiCorn, is a Haitian folk singer and songwriter recorded Haiti Cherie in the 1960s.
 * Georges Moustaki, has long maintained "Haïti Chérie" in his Francophone repertoire.
 * Harry Belafonte, has recorded several versions of "Haïti Chérie" in English.
 * Nancy Ames, recorded a version in Haitian Creole in 1963 or 1964.