La Dessalinienne

La Dessalinienne
English: The Song of Dessalines
	National anthem of Haiti
Lyrics	Justin Lhérisson, 1903
Music	Nicolas Geffrard, 1903
Adopted	January 1, 1904
Audio sample
	Menu 0:00 "La Dessalinienne" (instrumental, one verse) file; help;

"La Dessalinienne" (French pronunciation: [la dɛs.salinjɛn]; Haitian Creole: "Desalinyèn"; English: "The Dessalines Song") is the national anthem of Haiti. It was written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard.^[1]^[2]

Etymology[]

"La Dessalinienne" is named in honor of Haiti's revolutionary leader and first ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines.^[3]

History[]

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, a competition was held for a national anthem in 1903. The poetic words of Justin Lhérisson and martial composition of Nicolas Geffrard won over the judges, which led to its official adoption as the national anthem in 1904.^[4]^[5]

The 1903 premiere of the composition was sung by Auguste de Pradines, also known as Kandjo.^[6]^:47

As a one verse rendition can be relatively short, a common way to lengthen a performance is to perform an abridged arrangement consisting of the first verse immediately followed by the last one.^[7]

Unofficial variant[]

There is a Haitian Creole version that was created by Raymond A. Moise. Ansy Dérose, a Haitian singer, helped popularize it. Although it became widely accepted, the 1987 Haitian Constitution makes no mention of this particular version.^[1]

Lyrics[]

French (official)	English translation of the French version	Creole version (unofficial)	English translation of the Creole version
Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres, Marchons unis, Marchons unis. Dans nos rangs point de traîtres! Du sol soyons seuls maîtres. Marchons unis, Marchons unis Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres, Marchons, marchons, marchons unis, Pour le Pays, Pour les ancêtres... Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux Quand le champ fructifie L'âme se fortifie Bêchons joyeux, bêchons joyeux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie Bêchons, bêchons, bêchons joyeux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie. Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères Formons des Fils, formons des Fils Libres, forts et prospères Toujours nous serons frères Formons des Fils, formons des Fils Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères Formons, formons, formons des Fils Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères. Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux! Sous ta garde infinie Prends nos droits, notre vie O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux! Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie. Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie Mourir est beau, mourir est beau! Notre passé nous crie: Ayez l'âme aguerrie! Mourir est beau, mourir est beau Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie.	For the country, For the ancestors, Let us march. Let us march united. Let there be no traitors in our ranks! Let us be masters of our soil. United let us march For the country, For the ancestors. For the forefathers, For the country Let us toil joyfully. When the field is fertile Our soul strengthens. Let us toil joyfully For our forebears, For our country. For the country And for the forefathers, Let us train our sons Free, strong, and prosperous, We shall always be brothers. Let us train our sons For the country And for the forefathers. For the forefathers, For the country, Oh God of the valiant! Take our rights and our life Under your infinite protection, Oh God of the valiant! For the forefathers, For the country. For the flag, For the country To die is a glorious deed! Our past cries out to us: Have a seasoned soul! To die is a glorious deed, For the flag, For the country.	Pou Ayiti peyi Zansèt yo Se pou-n (pou nou) mache men nan lamen Nan mitan-n (mitan nou) pa fèt pou gen trèt Nou fèt pou-n (pou nou) sèl mèt tèt nou. Annou mache men nan lamen Pou Ayiti ka vin pi bèl Annou, annou, met tèt ansanm Pou Ayiti onon tout Zansèt yo. Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo Se pou-n (pou nou) sekle se pou-n (pou nou) plante Se nan tè tout fòs nou chita Se li-k (li ki) ba nou manje Ann bite tè, ann voye wou Ak kè kontan, fòk tè a bay Sekle, wouze, fanm tankou gason Pou-n (Pou nou) rive viv ak sèl fòs ponyèt nou. Pou Ayiti ak pou Zansèt yo Fo nou kapab vanyan gason Moun pa fèt pou ret avèk moun Se sa-k (sa ki) fè tout Manman ak tout Papa Dwe pou voye Timoun lekòl Pou yo aprann, pou yo konnen Sa Tousen, Desalin, Kristòf, Petyon Te fè pou wet Ayisyen anba bòt blan. Pou Ayiti onon Zansèt yo Ann leve tèt nou gad anlè Pou tout moun mande Granmèt la Pou-l (Pou li) ba nou pwoteksyon Pou move zanj pa detounen-n Pou-n (Pou nou) ka mache nan bon chimen Pou libète ka libète Fòk lajistis blayi sou peyi a! Nou gen drapo tankou tout pèp Se pou nou renmen-l (renmen li) mouri pou li Se pa kado blan te fè nou Se san Zansèt nou yo ki te koule Pou nou kenbe drapo nou wo Se pou nou travay met tèt ansanm. Pou lòt peyi ka respekte-l (respekte li) Drapo sila a se nanm tout Ayisyen.	For Haiti, the Country of the Ancestors we must walk hand in hand There must not be traitors among us-- We alone must be our master Let's walk hand in hand that Haiti may be more beautiful Let us put our heads together for Haiti on behalf of all the ancestors For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us mow, let us sow. All our strength rests in the soul-- It is what feeds us. Let us mound up earth, let us send water With joy, the earth must be fertile Mow, water, women and men that we may live by our own arms' strength alone. For Haiti and for the Ancestors We must be courageous, capable men. People are not born to serve others That is why all mothers and fathers Need to send children to school, to learn, to know what Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe, Pétion did to take Haitians from under the whites' boot. For Haiti on the behalf of the Ancestors Let us raise our head and look above. Let everyone to ask the Lord to grant us protection that the evil angels may not divert us, that we may walk in the right path. For liberty to be able to liberate, justice must spread over the country! We have a flag like all peoples. Let us love it, die for it. It was not a gift from the whites-- It was our Ancestors' blood that was shed. Let us hold our flag high. Let us work together and focus that other countries may respect it This flag is the soul of every Haitian.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Haitian Patriotic Songs". Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
^ Malena Kuss. Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: Volume 2 Performing the Caribbean Experience - An Encyclopedic History. The Universe of Music Inc. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-292-70951-5.
^ Olsen, Dale A.; Sheehy, Daniel E. (2014). The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music. p. 139. ISBN 9780415961011. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
^ Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. p. 182. ISBN 9780810878105. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
^ Haitian National Anthem : La Dessalinienne
^ Averill, Gage (1997). A day for the hunter, a day for the prey: Popular music and power in Haiti. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226032931.
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3fvFPIMYs0

External links[]

"La Dessalinienne" (mp3)

[ayitihistory-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Haitian Patriotic Songs". Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-02-05.

[2] Malena Kuss. Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: Volume 2 Performing the Caribbean Experience - An Encyclopedic History. The Universe of Music Inc. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-292-70951-5.

[3] Olsen, Dale A.; Sheehy, Daniel E. (2014). The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music. p. 139. ISBN 9780415961011. Retrieved 9 June 2015.

[4] Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. p. 182. ISBN 9780810878105. Retrieved 9 June 2015.

[5] Haitian National Anthem : La Dessalinienne

[averill97-6] Averill, Gage (1997). A day for the hunter, a day for the prey: Popular music and power in Haiti. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226032931.

[7] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3fvFPIMYs0

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