Nan mitan yon chan kann bò Igwey
In the middle of a cane field near Higuey 
An Dominikani
In the Dominican Republic
De Ayisyen chita nan yon batey
Two Haitians are sitting
Pye atè, dotouni
Barefooted, their back nacked
Youn ape pale, youn ape koute
One's talking, one's listening
Yo pa fè bri
They're not making any noise
Van nan kann nan sèlman ki tande
The wind through the cane is the only thing hearing
Sa y-ape di
What they're saying


Vyewo, ou k-prale fè tè Ayiti,
Viejo as you're going to farm in Haiti
Men yon kominsyon w-a bay madanm mwen pou mwen
Here's a message to give to my wife for me
Vyewo se yon "Diez peso"
It's ten pesos, Viejo
Vyewo avèk youn pè zanno
Along with a pairs of earrings, Viejo
Lè ou rive, si ou jwenn li plase
When you arrive if you find her with another guy
Wa bay manman mwen yo pou mwen
would you give them to my mother for me


Vyewo ale, vyewo tounen
Viejo went, and returned
Avèk nouvèl ki bay kè plen:
With news that saddened his heart:
Manman an mouri
The mother had died
Sa gen kèk lane
Some years before.
Gen moun ki di
There were those who said
Ke se chagren
She died of sadness.
Madanm nan la, l'ap kenbe
The wife was there, hanging on,
Men timoun yo mal okipe
But the kids had been badly cared for.
Premye a grandi tankou chwal
 The first had grown up like a wild horse,
Ti dènye a pa menm sonje papa-l
The littlest didn't even remember his father


Nan mitan youn chan kann bò Igwey
In the middle of a canefield near Higuey
An Dominikani
In the Dominican Republic
De Ayisyen chita nan yon batey
Two Haitians are sitting
Pye atè, do touni
Barefooted, their backs naked
Youn ape pale, Youn ape koute
One's talking, one's listening
Yo pa fè bri
They're not making any noise.
Van nan kann nan kouri efase
The wind through the cane is the only thing listening,
Sa ya pe di
What they are saying



Kouzen M-sot fè tè Ayiti
Men non komisyon madan-m ou voye ba ou
Here's a message your wife sends to you
Kouzen li lè pou ou tounen
Cousin, its time for you to come back
Kouzen men-m si ou pa pot anyen
Even if you don't bring anything cousin
Lè w-ap janbe fwontyè
When you're crossing the border
Pa bliye manchèt ou dèyè.
Don't leave your machete behind.