lyrics yellow bird (Creole?)

Choukoun (also called Ti Zwazo and Yellow Bird)

1. Dèyè yon gwo touf pengwen*   Behind a mass of penguin
Lòt jou m rankontre Choukoun  The other day I met Choukoun
Li souri lè li wè mwen                  She smiled when she saw me
Mwen di: "Syèl, ala bèl moun!"  I said, "Heavens, what a beauty!"
Mwen di: "Syèl, ala bèl moun!"  I said, "Heavens, what a beauty!"
Li di m li twouve sa chè              She said She held that dear.

Ti zwezo nan bwa              Little birds in the woods
ki t'ape koute m                 Who were listening
Ti zwezo nan bwa              Little birds in the woods
ki t'ape koute m                 Who were listening
Lè mwen sonje sa              When I thought of that
Mwen genyen lapenn         It gave me such pain
Ka depi jou sa                   For, since that day
De pye mwen nan chenn    Both my feet were in chains

Choukoun se yon marabou  Choukoun is a beauty
Je li klere kòm chandèl      Her eyes are bright like candles
Li gen ti tete doubout        She has erected breasts
Ay! si Choukoun te fidèl    If only she was faithful
Ay! si Choukoun te fidèl   If only she was faithful
Jan mwen ta renmen li     How I would have loved her

Ti dan Choukoun            Choukoun's teeth
blan kou lèt                     Are white like milk
Bouch li koulè                Her lips are the same color
kayimit                          as kayimit*
Li pa gwo fanm,            She's not a big woman
li gwosèt     This could mean she's petite
Fanm konsa                 women like that
plè mwen touswit        I find very pleasant
Fanm konsa               women like that
plè mwen touswit        I find very pleasant
Tan pase                     The time of yesterdays
pa tan jodi!                is not the time of today


*pengwen might also be a dense bushy tree
*Kayimit is a fruit that has a mauve color

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