The Concept:
For this song, I wanted to both recognize and celebrate the resilience of Haitian people. I would say that they, in a way, have also experienced exile. Many Haitians know what it is it like to struggle, start over, and adjust to very difficult circumstances. I know that this is the case for my own parents and other Haitian immigrants. And it likely was the case for the Haitians who fought for their independence during the Haitian Revolution. I wanted this song to capture this hardship while simultaneously recognizing how far we have come. Because honestly, the resilience of Haitian people is really something worth celebrating.
The Process:
I thought of the Haitian Creole lyrics about a month ago, on a Saturday while getting ready to leave for the weekend. Right before my drive, I hit the record button to record a voice note of my idea so I would not forget a thing. This song probably took me less than an hour to write (including the translating part). The part of the process that took the longest was recording. After about two weeks of going back and forth, the musicians from my church and I were finally able to find a time to meet and record the song. Since it was decided early on that this song would include Konpa music as a way to represent Haitian Culture through music, it was important that all four musicians (or at least three out of four them) were present. We met on a Friday night before church service to figure out the music and record. To be honest, I found myself getting frustrated during practice. I felt like the way I sung the outro was not strong enough, and slowing down the song at the end just was not working. However, after a few practice runs following the end of the church service, everything starting coming together. The outro became the intro. We changed the key starting key and chord progressions. The musicians figured out how to start after my intro. Finally, at about 11:45 at night, after a many takes, multiple sayings of “no no no” “let’s start over” and “my bad,” we had a finished product. And boy, did it feel good to hit “stop recording” on the mixer.
The Product:
Below is the recording and lyrics for this song, titled “Ode to Haitian Resilience.” I’m sure I can go on about some of the flaws present in the recording, but that’s not important. This was never meant to be a perfect product, but rather a way for me to pay homage to the strength of the Haitian people and the way they have been able to navigate their version of the exile experience. This song means a lot to me, and I hope you are able to get something from it as well ❤
P.S. the singing starts at about 6 or 7 seconds (I wasn’t able to crop the audio).
Ode to Haitian Resilience by Rhobie T.
Piano: Job M. | Drums: Daniel R.
Bass: Elijah P. | Guitar: Jeffrey L.
When they say we’re worth nothing We’re not worth saving When the world turns their back against us and they say there's nothing to us Don't you worry my dear, We’ll still be standing here Haitians were in slavery Oh but they’re still here They fought in a big battle Oh but they’re still here They had to start to start over Oh but they’re still here Oh but they’re still here Oh but they’re still here My People are resilient Oh, yes they’re still here They endured much misery Oh, yes they’re still here They endured much sadness Oh, yes they’re still here Oh, yes they’re still here Oh, yes they’re still here Oh yes, Oh yes We are still here Oh yes, Oh yes We are still here
Lè yo di nou pa anyen
Nou pa vo sove
Lè mond la vire do yo sou nou
E yo di pa gen anyen pou nou
Ou pa bezwen enkyete
N’ap toujou kanpe la
Ayisyen te nan esklavaj
O men yo la toujou
Yo batay nan gwo goumen
O men yo la toujou
yo te kòmanse ankò
O men yo la toujou
O men yo la toujou
O men yo la toujou
Pèp mwen an rezistan
O wi yo la toujou
Yo pase anpil mizè
O wi yo lo la toujou
yo te pase anpil tristès
O wi yo la toujou
O wi yo la toujou
O wi yo la toujou
O wi, O wi
Nou toujou la
O wi, O wi
Nou toujou la
Inside an Optimist's Mind 