Wa Di Yo, by Lakou Mizik

Wa Di Yo

by Lakou Mizik

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

INCLUDES THREE DIGITAL ONLY BONUS TRACKS! Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Comes with extensive digital booklet that includes photos, bios, full lyrics and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$8.99 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
The physical CD is packaged in a 6-panel softpak.

Includes digital download of Wa Di Yo (with three digital only bonus tracks and a digital booklet with photos, bios, lyrics and more.

Includes unlimited streaming of Wa Di Yo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 7 days

Purchasable with gift card

$13.98 USD or more

1.	Intro: Morning In Jacmel 00:09		buy track
2.	Poze 03:17	lyrics	buy track
Stay calm people, stay calm I said stay calm, stay calm people! The people who badmouth me I don’t pay them any attention I’m sending you this message Stay calm! Chorus Stay calm people, stay calm (x2) The people who badmouth me I don’t pay them any attention I’m sending you this message Stay calm! Staying calm is the best cure, no, no , no You can’t fall if you are not guilty, yes, yes, yes I am the strongest, I beat you I break the record, you agree After this whooping your little heart beats fast You’ll beg God to end your misery I’ll put you to rest so just sit and stay calm! People speak about what they see They speak about what they don’t see They are gossipers. They gossip about me. (x2) (Chorus) They are here (looking suspicious) (x4) We throw water (but it’s not to get anybody wet) (x4) (They badmouth us enough) (x4)
3.	Panama’m Tonbe 03:16	lyrics	buy track
Verse I am coming from Jacmel’s city, heading to Lavallee Arriving at Bainet Station, my Panama hat falls down (x2) Chorus My Panama hat has fallen, my hat Panama has fallen My hat Panama has fallen, those who are behind me pick it up (x2) (Verse) (Chorus) It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to the elders It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to my ancestors It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I tell to the elders It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to Lakou It has fallen, since 1804 they said that we’re free It has fallen, chains left our feet but stayed in our mind It has fallen, that’s why our country can’t develop Time is passing, we are getting older I say it has fallen It has fallen, since 1804 they said that we are free It has fallen, chains left our feet but stayed in our mind It has fallen, that’s why our country can’t develop, time flies Lakou It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to my mother It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to my country It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to my elders It has fallen, pick it up for me, what shall I say to Lakou It has fallen, pick it up for me
4.	Anba Siklòn 04:39	lyrics	buy track
Chorus In a hurricane In times of trouble They turn 7 into 9 (x2) In a hurricane In times of trouble They turn 4 into 8 (x2) Hmmm they are changing 7 into 9 (x2) Hmmm they are changing 4 into 8 (x2) Verse Why are you laughing at my problems? Contributing to my suffering? Look how you steal my happiness Have mercy! Have mercy! Look how you walk over my culture Why do you take advantage of my weakness? Look how you are using my pain (Have mercy!) Haiti will change (We’ll see it) This country will move forward (We’ll see it) Haiti will rise up (We’ll see it) Raise your hand and say yes (x2) (Chorus) (Verse) (Chorus) Conscience! Conscience! Conscience! Conscience!
5.	Bade Zile 01:21		buy track
6.	Zao Pile Tè 06:36	lyrics	buy track
It’s how we look at them, look at them, look at them It’s how we look at the sanbas in the country, in the courtyards The sanbas are hanging in there The sanbas are in their courtyards, their hardships, their victories The sanbas are there by themselves Vodou when we get in Dyo or Legba here we are Dear Father Legba we are in Yes, we’re here in the courtyard Yes, we’re here in the courtyard We’ll light up the lamps Before we saddle the horse We’ll open the door to get in (repeat) Vodou when we get in Dyo or Legba here we are Dear Father Legba we are in Yes, we’re in the courtyard Chorus Zao, Zao, stomps the ground Zao, Zao, stomps the ground for them (x2) Call aboudja, call manmade, call achade Sanba dadou, oh, to get the collective going Zao, Zao, stomps the ground Zao, Zao, stomps the ground for them (x2) (Chorus) Greetings oh (Greetings sanba) (repeat) I was just passing by they pointed fingers at the sanbas (x2) I was just coming up they heard simidòs’ voices (x2) Oh, oh, oh (they pointed fingers at the sanbas) Eh, eh, eh (they heard the voices of the simidòs) Greetings (Greetings sanba) (x2) Who cares? What have we done to them Zaila is already at the street corner Zaka positive spirit here are the ginen Who cares, who cares, who cares about them? Zaila is already at the street corner, talk to them (x2) Who cares? What have we done to them? Zaila is already at the street corner Zaka positive spirit here are the ginen Zaka positive spirit here are the asento Zaka positive spirit here are the ginen Zaka positive spirit talk to them Who cares, who cares who cares about them? Zaila is already at the street corner, talk to them Who cares? What have we done to them? Zaila is already in the courtyard, Zaka positive spirit here are the ginen Zaka positive spirit here are the asento Zaka positive spirit here are the ginen Zaka positive spirit talk to them Since Africa they divided us that way Since Subaruo shit happens (bis) Foreward! Foreward, Lakou Mizik! Foreward! Foreward Lakou yes Lakou Mizik is moving forward, and turns to look back, yes (x2) As it looks back, it kicks in forward, yes (x2)
7.	Tanbou’n Frape 04:07	lyrics	buy track
Amen for our home Amen, three drumsticks, three kata drum sticks (x2) Wherever it goes, it gives me shivers In our guts that’s where it lives Wherever it hits it makes everybody dance With it we have sung for freedom The whole nation has transformed On our tip toes we danced Our drums hit, men fall down Everybody knows that we are Haitian Chorus Amen When our drum hits our strength doubles The mother drum of Liberty When our drum beats our strength doubles The three drums Mantò Idjaye Our drum beats Amen for our home Amen, three drumsticks, three kata drum sticks (x2) We were about to call out the spirits Dessaline and Miss Defile No I don’t want to know your nationality We are at the crossroads at dawn and our strength doubles We all know who we are Mothers and fathers of Liberty If you come closer you’ll get stuck Because when our drum hits (Chorus) You don’t know Lakou Soukri You don’t know Lakou Badjo You won’t find out our essence You won’t find out our essence You don’t know the way to Souvnans You don’t know Pik Makaya Mountain You won’t know our essence You won’t know our essence You don’t give water to the spirit You don’t say Amen You won’t find our essence You won’t find our essence You never stepped foot in a Lakou You pretend to dance Vodou You won’t know our essence You won’t know our essence Agosi, agola, agoye Our strength doubles Where are my drums, my kata, my second drum Our strength doubles. Since in Ginen we’re like that Our strength doubles We came from Africa like that Our strength doubles Agosi, agola, agoye Our strength doubles We came from the Lakou like that Our strength doubles
8.	Peze Kafe 04:12	lyrics	buy track
My mother sends me to sell coffee As I get to the town’s port of entry A policeman arrests me (x2) Chorus My friends, oh my God What will I say when I get back home? What will I say when I get back home? My mother will whip me So will my father What will I say when I get back home? My mother will whip me So will my father What will I say when I get back home? My father is waiting for the coffee’s money Mr. Derozye you are my only witness Please tell him what happened Please tell him what happened Tell him what happened The pot is on the stove They are waiting for the money to buy oil I’m not guilty of my father’s coffee Being wasted on the main road (Chorus) My pops sent me to sell coffee Which got me in trouble I had to go The street corner by the town’s entry is a tough place The policeman got mad Things went left Night is about to fall And I know my mother’s whooping hurts She is the one who sent me I must be back on time Derozye was watching Only he can testify Please help me call him Derozye! Mr. Derozye come tell me I have never been to the police station What made the policeman arrest me? The pots off the stove and the coals are spread I grabbed my bag as night was falling I’m going to find out what happened! (Chorus) Hey Derozye please! (x4)
9.	Pran Ka Mwen 04:03	lyrics	buy track
Iye, iye, iye (x4) We are all one people on earth Sanba care for me, spirits care for me My family care for me, my friends care for me I came on earth to live in peace Down here on earth, we are all one people (x2) The men care for me, the women care for me The kata players care for me, the tanbou players care for me We came on earth to live as brothers Down here on earth, we believe we are all one (x2) Peasants care for me, artisans care for me Society cares for me, please don’t forget me I came on earth to live in peace Down here on earth, we are all one (x2) The men care for me, the women care for me The kata players care for me, the tanbou players care for me We came on earth to live as brothers Down here on earth, we believe we are all one (x2) My peasants, we are all one on earth Artisans we are all one people on earth My female merchants we are all one people on earth Society, we are all one people on earth Family, we are all one people on earth Moto-Taxi drivers we are all one people on earth
10.	Is Fa Ti Bo 03:42	lyrics	buy track
Roll the drum for me Roll, roll the drum for me Lakou roll it for me, roll it Roll the drum for me, roll it Oh my God! Oh my God! Is fa tibo Kanan kana is fa ti bo I ask you to wake up woman, you gotta wake up woman Wake up wake up Wake up mother, please wake up mother Wake up wake up The lady roasts enough coffee Tell the Lakou guy that it’s time to blow the lanbi For the group squad to gather Oh my God, what a lakou! Mother, please Here is the thing father We will have a good cup of coffee Before the squad starts working This won’t stop us from starting, ha ha Roll the drum for me Roll the drum for me You have to beat the drum for me Oh my God, Is fa ti bo Kana kanan is fa ti bo (x4) Since the January 12th earthquake hit No one has worked the land What will the children eat? The citizens said nothing about it The youth is lost What has happened to this country? Roll the drum for me Roll the drum for me You have to roll the drum for me Oh my God, oh my God, is fa ti bo Kana kanan is fa ti bo (x4) Iye, Iye, eye, eye, aya ya yo, ye, aye ie The day is breaking What shall I say to my mama The day is breaking The day is breaking I went to Leogane and The day is breaking The day is breaking, I was dancing rara and The day is breaking The day is breaking, what am I gonna say back home The day is breaking The day is breaking Where I was in Jeremie I went to get a tonmtonm The day is breaking, what I am gonna say to my mother? The day is breaking
11.	Parenn Legba 01:45		buy track
12.	Wa Di Yo 06:33	lyrics	buy track
I’ve already seen the path that I was going to take The devils put up walls to stop me Nevertheless I try to cross over, they pull me back.I fall down I don’t stay down so they don’t do whatever they want on my back Those who don’t understand say that I am lazy Those who don’t understand say that I wrongfully attack Light, energy Angels of God light up Chorus Tell them, that these men have no love in their heart anymore Tell them, that life has more secret to it Tell them, that I am still hanging in there Tell them, that I am still hanging in there Sometimes you wake up and everything is so clouded While someone else is triumphing As long as you are alive, don’t give up the fight, you are in a battle Life is high but sometimes up side down Those who don’t understand say that I’m lazy Let me tell that’s not true Those who don’t understand say that I wrongfully attack It’s not true Light, oh! (Chorus) Where is all that love they said they had Look into their heart, there is no love They make you beautiful promises while their heart is locked up There is none Love is enchained over personal interest. There is none They sugarcoat you, look into their heart, it’s not true There is no love Tell them (x8)
13.	Bon Tan 04:15	lyrics
Chorus I’m here in good times, I’m here in bad times We’ll always meet no matter what (x2) Remember what we talked about Remember the secrets we told each other In Latibonit there is a river that crosses its mother But not its father (x2) This year gives us the wind to carry us abroad Foreigners give us their smiles But don’t give us their hearts (x2) (Chorus) We make the good times and the bad times We give wisdom and we give happiness We’ll always meet no matter what (x2) We make the good times and the bad times We give wisdom and we give happiness Ayayay The flood is coming, the rain is falling Tell the people, like it or not a change is coming (x2) If it comes down to it, I will beg for a living (x2) We’ll do it with love my brothers and we’ll do it together (x4) (Chorus)
14.	Se Ayiti Wi! (Kanaval Version) 05:20	lyrics
Chorus (x4) Kouzin, we need the spirits Kouzin, we need the spirits We are walking up to “Bwa Kayiman” to bring people together We need the spirits For us to be delivered we need the spirits God where are you Papa? God fix your gaze on us please The Ginen spirit has spoken Your servants hear your voices (x2) Vodou spirits are running free The Ginen are taking to the streets The Christian saints are running free Lakou Mizik is taking to the streets It seems they’ve forgotten It seems they’ve really forgotten We’ll make them remember how great of a people we are We’ll make them remember We bring pride to all black people on earth That’s Haiti! It’s we that said the bullets are just dust That’s Haiti! Like a fighting rooster we know our battlefield That’s Haiti! We abolished slavery its clear That’s Haiti! 1804 showed them who we are They were shocked! They thought we woudn’t leave our chains They were shocked! We beat them to give them a lesson They were shocked! Haiti told them it wouldn’t take it They were shocked! The slaves were freed Liberated (x4) Fed up we’re shouting out we’re fed up See how fed up we are We make their hearts jump Our strong Vodou spririts carry us forward (x2) 1804 showed them who we are They were shocked! They thought we woudn’t leave our chains They were shocked! We beat them to give them a lesson They were shocked! Haiti told them it wouldn’t take it They were shocked! The slaves were freed Liberated (x4)
15.	Se Ayiti Wi! (La La Land Mix) 05:44	lyrics
Chorus (x4) Kouzin, we need the spirits Kouzin, we need the spirits We are walking up to “Bwa Kayiman” to bring people together We need the spirits For us to be delivered we need the spirits God where are you Papa? God fix your gaze on us please The Ginen spirit has spoken Your servants hear your voices (x2) Vodou spirits are running free The Ginen are taking to the streets The Christian saints are running free Lakou Mizik is taking to the streets It seems they’ve forgotten It seems they’ve really forgotten We’ll make them remember how great of a people we are We’ll make them remember We bring pride to all black people on earth That’s Haiti! It’s we that said the bullets are just dust That’s Haiti! Like a fighting rooster we know our battlefield That’s Haiti! We abolished slavery its clear That’s Haiti! 1804 showed them who we are They were shocked! They thought we woudn’t leave our chains They were shocked! We beat them to give them a lesson They were shocked! Haiti told them it wouldn’t take it They were shocked! The slaves were freed Liberated (x4) Fed up we’re shouting out we’re fed up See how fed up we are We make their hearts jump Our strong Vodou spririts carry us forward (x2) 1804 showed them who we are They were shocked! They thought we woudn’t leave our chains They were shocked! We beat them to give them a lesson They were shocked! Haiti told them it wouldn’t take it They were shocked! The slaves were freed Liberated (x4)

about

Lakou Mizik is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their collective culture and communicate a message of pride, strength and hope to their countrymen and the world.

Music is at the core of Haiti’s sense of identity, and musicians have always played an important role in society, both in documenting the country’s history and helping to shape its path forward. Today, a young generation of artists is keeping this tradition alive, narrating the world they live in through music that is made in their neighborhoods, villages and post-earthquake camps. Lakou Mizik brings together these musical generations in celebration of the cultural continuum while using Haiti’s deep well of creative strength to shine a positive light on this tragically misrepresented country.

credits

released March 26, 2016

license

about

Lakou Mizik Haiti

cumbancha.com

Recommendations

discography

HaitiaNola

Oct 2019
Iko Kreyol EP

Jul 2019
Wa Di Yo

Mar 2016

contact / help

Contact Lakou Mizik

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Lakou Mizik recommends:

Mama Funny Day
by Sarazino

Sarazino’s third album on Cumbancha, Mama Funny Day, blends elements of Latin reggae, African hip-hop and pan-global pop to create a universally appealing sound. Lakou Mizik
go to album
Monistic Theory
by Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate

"African, funk and rap influences combine in an energetic performance...in which the virtuoso kora work is integrated into sturdy playing from the band. Exuberant virtuosic fusion."- The Guardian Lakou Mizik
go to album

If you like Lakou Mizik, you may also like:

Les Filles de Illighadad
by Les Filles de Illighadad

supported by 6 fans who also own “Wa Di Yo”

The song „Tende“ always makes me smile. You can really hear the energy. Jan Weß
go to album
Agadez
by Etran de L'Aïr

supported by 4 fans who also own “Wa Di Yo”

I'd like to label this as "desert blues" if only it weren't for the blues missing... So, what about Tuareg dance rock? The liner notes say, this is what a Agadez wedding party sounds like. Well, those are a real feat then! ;-) Carsten Pieper
go to album
Tanbou Toujou Lou: Meringue, Kompa Kreyol, Vodou Jazz, & Electric Folklore from Haiti
by Various Artists

featured on Bandcamp Radio Sep 20, 2016
go to album
Ayiti Kongo Dub #1
by Chouk Bwa & The Ångstromers

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 7, 2022
go to album