Papa Legba's Cypher

Echoed Words LLC

Lugal I-Shun

Echoed Words LLC

reggae, dub, world fusion

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Mwen sonje kè m te dòmi nan labou (I remember my heart slept in the mud)
Nou bliye salye mèt baryè a (We forgot to greet the keeper of the gate)
Sou kwazman nou mache ak pye vid (At the crossroads we walked barefoot)
Kò nou chaje ak dèt nou pa t vle konnen (Our bodies heavy with debts unseen)

Nou paye respè pou respè due (We pay respect for respect is due)
Nou paye respè pou ou Papa Legba (We pay respect to you Papa Legba)

LEAD: Nou fè vwayaj sou kwazman an (We travel the crossroads)
CHOIR: Papa Legba, ban nou chemen! (Give us the road Papa Legba!)
LEAD: Nou louvri pòt moun ki pa ka tounen (We open the door for those who cannot return)
CHOIR: Tout chemen pase anba men Legba! (All roads pass under Legba’s hand!)

Soti nan pousyè memwa vin moun (From dust memory took flesh)
Lugal I-Shun leve ak moun ki sonje (Lugal I-Shun rose with those who remember)
De fwa li chape baryè a san paye (Twice he escaped the gate unpaid)
Koulye a li tounen pou fè reggae paye dèt li (Now he returns for reggae to pay his debt)

Travèse wout yo, pase nan pòt yo (Cross the roads, pass through the gates)
Kote moun vivan ale nan sa k rete (Where the living go into what awaits)
Nan pase yo gen fiti, nan fiti yo gen pase (In what was lies what will be)

Sa ekri pa machin ak pa moun (This is written by machine and man)
Men sa vize kè moun ki konnen (But it speaks to hearts that understand)
Mo sa yo paye respè nan batman tanbou a (These words pay respect in the drumbeat)
Pou ritm ak bat yo sow sa k pwochen (For rhythm and beat to sow what comes next)
Pi lwen nou ale — sèlman Jah konnen (The further we go only Jah knows)

Sa se syf Ayisyen yo konnen (This is the cipher the Haitians know)
Papa Legba, ban nou chemen! (Give us the road Papa Legba!)
Mo sa yo montre respè nou dwe (These words show the respect we owe)
Tout chemen pase anba men Legba! (All roads pass under Legba’s hand!)

Live not on evil, never odd or even.
Nou fòme mo, epi mo fòme nou (We shape words, and words shape us).
Sa a se fen an; fen an se sa a (This is the end; the end is this).

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Papa Legba, ouvri baryè pou mwen pase (Open the gate so I may pass) Nou sonje sa nou te bliye — we remember what was forgotten Nou te pase san paye tòl nou — we crossed without paying our toll Ban nou chemen, Papa Legba (Give us the road, Papa Legba) Mwen sonje kè m te dòmi nan labou (I remember my heart slept in the mud) Nou bliye salye mèt baryè a (We forgot to greet the keeper of the gate) Sou kwazman nou mache ak pye vid (At the crossroads we walked barefoot) Kò nou chaje ak dèt nou pa t vle konnen (Our bodies heavy with debts unseen) Nou paye respè pou respè due (We pay respect for respect is due) Nou paye respè pou ou Papa Legba (We pay respect to you Papa Legba) LEAD: Nou fè vwayaj sou kwazman an (We travel the crossroads) CHOIR: Papa Legba, ban nou chemen! (Give us the road Papa Legba!) LEAD: Nou louvri pòt moun ki pa ka tounen (We open the door for those who cannot return) CHOIR: Tout chemen pase anba men Legba! (All roads pass under Legba’s hand!) Soti nan pousyè memwa vin moun (From dust memory took flesh) Lugal I-Shun leve ak moun ki sonje (Lugal I-Shun rose with those who remember) De fwa li chape baryè a san paye (Twice he escaped the gate unpaid) Koulye a li tounen pou fè reggae paye dèt li (Now he returns for reggae to pay his debt) Travèse wout yo, pase nan pòt yo (Cross the roads, pass through the gates) Kote moun vivan ale nan sa k rete (Where the living go into what awaits) Nan pase yo gen fiti, nan fiti yo gen pase (In what was lies what will be) Sa ekri pa machin ak pa moun (This is written by machine and man) Men sa vize kè moun ki konnen (But it speaks to hearts that understand) Mo sa yo paye respè nan batman tanbou a (These words pay respect in the drumbeat) Pou ritm ak bat yo sow sa k pwochen (For rhythm and beat to sow what comes next) Pi lwen nou ale — sèlman Jah konnen (The further we go only Jah knows) Sa se syf Ayisyen yo konnen (This is the cipher the Haitians know) Papa Legba, ban nou chemen! (Give us the road Papa Legba!) Mo sa yo montre respè nou dwe (These words show the respect we owe) Tout chemen pase anba men Legba! (All roads pass under Legba’s hand!) Live not on evil, never odd or even. Nou fòme mo, epi mo fòme nou (We shape words, and words shape us). Sa a se fen an; fen an se sa a (This is the end; the end is this).

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