Nou pase kay etranje
We go up a foreigner's steps
Nou jwenn pitit nou
And find our children
Ap bale pa pòt
Sweeping his floor

Nou chita nan salon etranje
We pass through a foreigner's house
Nou wè table nou
And find our paintings
Kwoke sou mi
On his wall
Nou tande mizik nou ap sot nan gagann yo
We hear our music coming from his gullet

N-antre nan kizin etranje
We enter a foreigner's kitchen
Nou jwenn toutrèl nou
And find our dove
Ap kwit nan chodyè yo
In his cooking pot

Yo ta chode toutrèl lavi-n
He's trying to cook our bird alive
Yo ta toufe zwezo bèlte-n
He's trying to smother our wild dove

Men gen moun ki pase
Someone's lifting the lid
Chodyè -a dekouvri 
The dove's escaping
Toutrèl vole l-ale
The dove's escaping
Sou dife a-l kite
Leaving on the fire
Yon chodyè ki vid k-ap boule
An empty pot that is burning.