# Haïti Chérie

"Haïti Chérie" (French pronunciation:: 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 your value
    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, o 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.