“Little paper boat”
(Translation by Chris Cuniah)
“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