Fanm Ki Dou
This type of song is called a "conversation duet" that's usually sung between a man and a woman.
Fanm Ki Dou
Gentle Woman
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Saint Lucian Creole French )
(English)
(Refrain)
I di fanm, fanm ki dou
Fanm ki dou
Fanm ki dou an ti patjé kannèl mwen pòté ba ou
(Wépété)
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou pòté ban mwen
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou pòté ban mwen
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou pòté ban mwen
Nonm : An ti patjé kannèl mwen pòté ba ou
(Refrain)
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Fanm : An ti kwèkolé* mwen kite ba ou
(Refrain)
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou achté ban mwen
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou achté ban mwen
Fanm : Doudou ki sa ou achté ban mwen
Nonm : An ti stèpin wòz* mwen achté ba ou
(Refrain)
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Nonm : Doudou ki sa ou kité ban mwen
Fanm : An patat chofé mwen kité ba ou
(Refrain)
Nonm : Doudou ki moun ki chofé'y ba ou
Nonm : Doudou ki moun ki chofé'y ba ou
Nonm : Doudou ki moun ki chofé'y ba ou
Fanm : An misyé Tisson ki chofé'y ban mwen
(Refrain)
(Chorus)
He said, woman, gentle woman,
Gentle woman,
Gentle woman, a small pack of cinnamon I bring you.
(Repeat)
Ladies: Sweetie what do you bring me?
Ladies: Sweetie what do you bring me?
Ladies: Sweetie what do you bring me?
Men: A small pack of cinnamon I bring you.
(Chorus)
Men: Sweetie, what did you leave me?
Men: Sweetie, what did you leave me?
Men: Sweetie, what did you leave me?
Ladies: A little bit of porridge I left for you.
(Chorus)
Ladies: Sweetie what did you buy me?
Ladies: Sweetie what did you buy me?
Ladies: Sweetie what did you buy me?
Men: A small pink undergarment I bought for you.
(Chorus)
Men: Sweetie what did you leave me?
Men: Sweetie what did you leave me?
Men: Sweetie what did you leave me?
Ladies: A heated up sweet potato I left for you.
(Chorus)
Men: Sweetie who heated it up for you
Men: Sweetie who heated it up for you
Men: Sweetie who heated it up for you
Ladies: A Mr. Tisson heated it up for me.
(Chorus)
Notes
*I asked at Kwéyòl Sent Lisi about the terms "stèpin wòz" and "kwèkolé" and here's what they responded:
"I have been trying to verify for the longest while now but no success as yet. 'Stèpin wòz' is some kind of pink female under wear I believe. 'Kwèkolé'/'kwenm kolé' is probably some porridge. But I am not sure. Folk songs are usually a problem to understand sometimes."
Monique wrote from France, "'Kwèkolé' could be some custard = crème collée."
If anyone has more info about the meaning of these terms, please email me. Thanks! -Mama Lisa
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Kwéyòl Sent Lisi (a site about Saint Lucian Creole) for help with some terms in this song!
Image: St. Lucia - Arawak Native
Mèsi !
