Lè timoun an mwen/Manman-doudou

Lyrics Traditional Guadeloupe Song by Ektò Poulé Music arrangements by Paul Mindy
Performers Roselaine Bicep

Lè timoun an mwen (Mon enfant)

Lè pitit an-mwen ka mandé-mwen tété
Mwen kalé ba-li manjé matété
Dodo pitit, papa pa la
Sé manman tousèl ki dan lanbara
Dodo pitit, papa pa la
Sé manman tousèl ki dan la miser

Lè timoun an mwen (My child)

When my child asks to nurse
I give him matété* to eat
Go to sleep, baby, daddy is not here
Mommy is all alone, she’s having a hard time
Go to sleep, baby, daddy is not here
Mommy is alone, she is very poor*

*Matété: sweet porridge of bread and milk

Manman-doudou (Chère maman)

Aprédavwa manman nou ban-nou tété
I viré ban-nou manjé matété
Manman-doudou evè lanmou
Ou rivé fè si nou gran jòdijou
E si dèmen manman-nou bizwen tété
Nou ké sav ba-li manjé matété
Manman-doudou ou pé kwè-nou
Nou ké sav fè ou kontan nou on jou
Nou pa té ké vlé dèmen ou règrété
Lè nou té piti ou ban-nou tété
Manman-doudou si lavi dou
Sé davwa on jou ou fè-nou vwè jou

Manman-doudou (Dear Mommy)

After mother has nursed us
Now she gives us matété
Dear mommy, thanks to your love
You have allowed us to grow, right up until today
And if tomorrow our mother needs to be nursed
We will know to give her matété
Dear mommy, you can believe us
We will make you happy one day
We don’t want you to ever regret
Nursing us when we were little
Dear mommy, if life is sweet
It’s because you gave us life one day