Dodo ti pitit manman
"Dodo ti pitit manman" is a well-known lullaby in Haiti. Lullabies around the world often have something a little scary to "threaten" the child with if they don't go to sleep. In this lullaby, it's a crab that will eat the child if he doesn't sleep. Of course, most kids who hear lullabies are babies who don't really understand the meaning of the song. They only know the loving voice that's singing it and lulling them to sleep.
Dodo ti pitit manman
Sleep Mommy's Little One
Lullaby
Lullaby
(Haitian Creole)
(English)
Dodo ti pitit manman
do-o-do ti pitit manman
Si ou pa dodo krab la va mange'w
Si ou pa dodo krab la va mange'w
Manman ou pa la lalé nan maché
papa ou pa la l'alé larivyè
Si ou pa dodo krab la va mange'w
Si ou pa dodo krab la va mange'w
Choru
Dodo titit krab nan kalalou (allegro)
dodo titit krab nan Kalalou (allegro)
Sleep mommy's little one
Sleep mommy's little one,
If you don't sleep, the crab will eat you
If you don't sleep, the crab will eat you.
Your mama isn't here, she went to the market,
Your papa isn't here, he went to the river,
If you don't sleep, the crab will eat you
If you don't sleep, the crab will eat you.
(Chorus)
Sleep, little one, the crab's in the gumbo*
Sleep, little one, the crab's in the gumbo.
Notes
*Kalalou means both "okra" and "gumbo". Kalalou gumbo in the Caribbean often has okra and crab in it. Kalalou is sometimes spelled: "calalu", "calalou", or "calaloo". The word comes from Africa.
Comments
"The only truly Haitian lullaby I know." -Favia
You can hear the first two verses in the recording below...
Many thanks to Favia at Caribbean Living for sharing her recording of this lullaby with us!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation by Mama Lisa. Thanks to Marie Bastien for the correction.
Mèsi!
