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Ti Bato Papye

Ti Bato Papye

“Little paper boat”

(Translation by Chris Cuniah)

Ti Bato Papye

 

“Little paper boat”

(Translation by Chris Cuniah)

 

Keep afloat my little paper boat

Stay afloat and carry all my dreams

 

Nothing is faster than you in the canal

Straw, foliage, stick, you overtook them all

Alongside the canal, to follow you, I run

In my mind, my heart and soul, we are one

The water in the canal guides your destiny,

And it also guides my destiny

 

Keep afloat my little paper boat

Stay afloat and carry all my dreams

 

Out of a bus-ticket your flag danced

On a match-stick, proud in its stance

Fearing that you’ll capsize, my heart rends,

Where the water begins, where the water ends

Are all things not just an illusion in the end?

 

Keep afloat my little paper boat

Stay afloat and carry all my dreams

 

You’re not aware of the dangers of life itself

How many like me have launched one like you

How many after me will launch one like you

People are saying that history repeats itself

With your hope and my courage we’ll make history ourselves

 

Keep afloat my little paper boat

Stay afloat and carry all my dreams

 

Original Creole version:

Ti bato papye
Flot flote ti bato papye
Flot flote sarye tu mo bann rev

Pena pli rapid ki twa dan kanal
Dibwa, lapay, feyaz, enn par enn to manze
Mo galup bor kanal pu swiv twa
Dan mo lespri, mo leker, mo lam nu form enn sel
Dilo dan kanal gid to destine, gid mo destine

Flot flote ti bato papye
Flot flote sarye tu mo bann rev

To ti pavyon kart bis ape balanse
Lor enn baton zalimet fezer dan so dibute
Mo ti leker bat tranble per to devire
Kot dilo so kumansman, kot dilo so finisyon
Eski tu kitsoz finalman pa enn ilizyon

Flot flote ti bato papye
Flot flote sarye tu mo bann rev

To pa konsyan ki ena gran gran danze
Komye avan mwa finn anvoy enn kuma twa
Komye apre mwa pou anvoy enn kuma twa
Dimunn pe dir ki tultan listwar repete
Ek mo lespwar ek to kuraz nu pu fer listwar

Flot flote ti bato papye
Flot flote sarye tu mo bann rev

 

 

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