G on Jan Pou Ye – There’s a Way You Gotta Be
Haitian Creole (Kreyòl) – English Poetic Translation
G on jan pou ye.
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
Chak moun gen yon desten, chak moun gen yon chimen.
Chèche, chèche konnen ki bon chimen pou fè.
Nan koze lavi sa kote anpil bwè pwa,
Yon moun se veye zo w pou pa pri nan twa wa.
Ou te mèt anperè, ou te mèt lwijanboje,
Gen yon jan pou ye.
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
Lanati gen yon jan li regle tout bagay.
Si nou pa bliye sa, nou p ap tonbe nan tray.
Tout lapriyè gen amèn.
Tout boutèy gen bouchon.
Lalwa ak lajistis se remèd madichon.
Moun ki entelijan respekte règleman.
Moun ki pa vle danse pa dwe rantre nan won.
Bonte avèk sajès se de pi gwo richès.
Gen yon jan pou ye.
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
Menm jimo ki jimo pa genyen menm desten.
Chak moun gen yon desten, chak moun gen yon chimen.
Fò nou chèche konnen ki chimen nou dwe fè.
Genyen yon jan pou ye.
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
Gabriel T. Guillaume & Sydney Guillaume August 2022
There’s a way you gotta be. There’s a way we must be. We all have a destiny, we all have a path. Seek and search for the right path to take.
In this thing called life where many are lost, One must stay vigilant to avoid predicaments. You may be a ruler, you may be arrogant, There’s a way you gotta be. There’s a way we must be
Nature has a way of settling everything. If we remember that, we won’t have turmoil. All prayers have an amen.* All bottles have a cap.* Principles and justice are the remedies for trouble
Those who are smart follow the rules. Those who don’t want to dance don’t get in the circle.* Kindness and wisdom are the best virtues There’s a way you gotta be.
There’s a way we must be.
Even identical twins don’t share the same fate. We all have a destiny, we all have a path. We must search for which path to take. There’s a way you gotta be.
There’s a way we must be.
*Haitian proverbs
The phrase “G on jan pou ye” has been a popular idiom in the Haitian community in recent years, similar to how “You do you” has become popular in the United States. Although the colloquial phrase is often used by someone who’s playfully boasting, or subtly “throwing shade”, the text offers a reflective take on that phrase, and the music keeps it witty
As human beings, we are an essential part of nature where harmony and peace have made their home. We must maintain and improve this balance for the greater good of all. Regardless of our social position, each one of us is called to be our most authentic self – to be who we are at our deepest core. We must all seek to be true to ourselves and live our best life while allowing others to do the same.
GabrielT.Guillaume &SydneyGuillaume
SOPRANO
GonJanPouYe
CommissionedbyHudsonHighSchoolChoirs JacobMoore,Conductor
There’sawayyougottabe.
TENOR
Bongos (orsimilardrums)
Claves
Weallhaveadestiny,weallhaveapath.
SydneyGuillaume
Bongos
zopo-go-dop --po, zopo-go-dop --po, zopo-go-dop --po,zopo-go-dop --po.Gon mf janpouye. Chè-
zopo-go-dop --po, zopo-go-dop --po, zopo-go-dop --po,zopo-go-dop --po.Gon mf janpouye.
moun genyon chimen. - Gonjanpouye. moun genyon chimen. - Gonjanpouye. Chè-
Seekandsearchfortherightpathtotake.
Clv. -che, chè che kon nen, chè mp -che,chè13 zopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po,chè mp -che,chèzopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po,chè mp -che,chè-che, chè che kon nen, chè mp -che,chè-
Bongos Clv.
Bongos
Clv.
-che,chèche, - konnen, - ki mf bon chi men pou
-che,chèche, - konnen, - zo mf -poppo-dop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, -
-che,chèche, - konnen, - zo mf -poppo-dop --po, zigi-dap, - zopop - -podop --po, zigi-dap, -
-che,chèche, - konnen, - ki mf bon chi men pou
S. A. T. B.
?b.. / / &b
&b
& ‹ b
Bongos
Seek,search.
Clv. fè. zigi-dap, - zopop - -podo. - Chèche-konnen.A 19
chèche - konnen, - zigi-dap, - zopop - -podo. - Chèche-konnen. -
chèche - konnen, - zigi-dap, - zopop - -podo. - Chèche-konnen. - zi mp -gidi-pap, -
fè. zigi-dap, - zopop - -podo. - Chèche-konnen. - Nan mf koze - lavi -
/ (withstick,muffled) mp / ToCab. Cabasa (withstick,holdbeads)
Inthisthingcalledlifewheremanyarelost,
zi mp -gidi-pap,zigi-di-pap, - zigi-di-pap, - yon mf mounseveye-zow,poupaprinantwarwa, sakote-anpil-bwè pwa,yonmounseveye-zow,poupaprinantwarwa, veye -
stayvigilanttoavoidpredicaments. Youmaybearuler,
veye-zowpoupaprinantwarwa. Ou mf temètanpe
-pap,
youmaybearrogant,
There’sawayyougottabe.
There’sawaywemustbe.
Bongos
Cab.
zigi-di-pap. - o zigi-di-pap. - Genyen-yonjanpouye.Genyonjannoudweye.
zapti-gi-dap. - Genyen-yonjanpouye.Genyonjannoudweye.
Cab. -rè outemètlwijan - -boje. - Genyen-yonjanpouye.Genyonjannoudweye.
zipi-di-pap. - o zigi-di-pap. - Genyen-yonjanpouye.Genyonjannoudweye. Gen
There’sawaywemustbe.
There’sawayyougottabe.
zopo-go,-zigi-dap --po.Genyonjan,genyonjannoudweye.Gonjanpouye.La
-nati - genyon
zopo-go,-zigi-dap --po.Genyonjan,genyonjannoudweye.Gonjanpouye.o
zigi-dap,zopo-go,-zigi-dap --po.Genyonjan,genyonjannoudweye.Gonjanpouye.o
zigi-dap,yonjan,genyonjan,genyonjannoudweye.Gonjanpouye.o
ToClv. Claves
zigi-dap,mp
Bongos
S.
Naturehasawayofsettlingeverything.
PERUSALSCORE
Clv. janliregle-toutbagay. - zigi-dap, - ozigi-dap - oo,ouwo. - Sinoupabliye -
o zigi-dap, - o. zigi-dap, - ozigi-dap, - oo,ouwo. - zigi-dap,o zigi-dap, - o.woou - -wo.zigi-dap, - oo,ouwo. - zigi-dap,o zigi-dap, - o.woou - -wo.zigi-dap, - oo,ouwo. - zigi-dap, -
Bongos
Ifwerememberthat,wewon’thaveturmoil.
Allprayershaveanamen.
Clv. sa,noupaptonbe - nantray Tout f lapri-yè - genamèn. - a p -mènamèn, - amèn - amèn,C
o zigi-dap, - noupaptonbe-nantray. f a p -mènamèn, - amèn - amèn,o zigi-dap, - noupaptonbe-nantray. f Toutlapri-yè - genamèn. - a p -mènamèn, - amèn - amèn,o zigi-dap, - noupaptonbe-nantray. f Tout f lapri-yè - gena-
Bongos
S.
Clv.
Allbottleshaveacap.
amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn, - wi,amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn. - Gon
janpouye,gonjanpou
amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn, - wi,amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn. - Gon
janpouye,gonjanpou
amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn, - wi,amèn - amèn, - amèn - amèn. - Gon
janpouye,gonjanpou -mèn.(n) Toutboutèy - genbouchon. - Gon
Principlesandjusticearetheremediesfortrouble.
ye.Lalwa-aklajis --tis seremèd - madi-chon. f-mp - zo
janpouye,gonjanpou
-poppo-do,-zopop --podo. -
ye.Lalwa-aklajis --tis seremèd - madi-chon. f - Gonjanpouye.zo mf -poppo-do,-zopop --podo. -
ye.Lalwa-aklajis --tis seremèd - madi-chon. f - Gonjanpouye.zo mf -poppo-do,-zopop --podo. -
ye.Lalwa-aklajis --tis seremèd - madi-chon. f - Gonjanpouye.zo mf -poppo-do,-zopop --podo. -
Bongos
Clv.
S.
Bongos
Conga
There’sawayyougottabe.
There’sawaywemustbe.
Gon f janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye. ou mp -wo! Gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye. Gon f jannoudweye. Gon f janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye.
Bongos
Conga ou mf -wo! Gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye. Gonjannoudweye. 57 Gonjanpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye. ou mf -wo! Gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye. Gonjannoudweye. Gon f janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye.
Thosewhoaresmartfollowtherules.
Thosewhodon’twanttodancedon’tgetinthecircle.
Moun mf kiente - -lijan - respèk - -terègle --man. Mounkipavledansezi p -gidi-pap, - padap, -
Moun mf kiente - -lijan - respèk - -terègle --man. Mounkipavledanse -
Kindnessandwisdomarethebestvirtues.
There’sawayyougottabe.
ye,genyonjannoudweye.zi mp -gidi-pap - -padap, - zopap - -padap, - zipap - -padap, - zopo-do-po-po. -
genyonjannoudweye.zi mp -gidi-pap - -padap, - zopap - -padap, - zipap - -padap, - zopo-do-po-po. -
S. A. T. B. Bongos
Conga
Bon f -teavèk-sajès - sedebigworichès. - Genyonjanpouye. rit. 74 gonjanpouye,gonjanpouye.wo, mf ouwa --yo, ouwo. - Genyonjanpou ouwo, mf - ouwa --yo, ouwo. - Genyonjanpou janpouye,gonjanpouye.wo, mf ouwa --yo, ouwo. - Genyonjanpou rit.
Kindnessandwisdomarethebestvirtues. > . There’sawayyougottabe. >
PERUSALSCORE
S. A.
T. B.
Genyonjanpouye. Gen mp yonjanpouye,Gonjanpouye. rall. 79 ye. Genyonjannoudweye, ou mp -wo.Gonjanpouye. ye. Genyonjannoudweye, ou mp -wo.Gonjanpouye. ye. Genyonjannoudweye, ou mp -wo. Gen mfespress. yonjannoudweye. rall.
There’sawaywemustbe.
Clv.
Conga
c.q=100 G
Menm mfespress.
Evenidenticaltwinsdon’tsharethesamefate.
PERUSALSCORE
jimo - kijimo - pagenyen - menmdesten, - chak
doun pdolce -ga,dounga-la,-dounga-la,-dounga-la,-ela,-dounga, - dounga-la,-dounga-la,-dounga-la,-ela. -
doun pdolce -gala,-ela - o, -
doun pdolce -gala,-ela - o, -
dounga-la,-ela - o, -
Conga
dounga-la,-ela - o,S.
Weallhaveadestiny,weallhaveapath.
moungenyondesten, - chakmoungenyon chi men.90
Conga
dounga, - dounga-la, - dounga-la, - dounga-la,-ela,-dounga, - dounga-la, - dounga-la, - dounga-la,-ela. -
dounga-la,-ela - o, - dounga-la,-ela. - Gen mp yon espress. janpou dounga-la,-ela - o, - dounga-la,-ela. - o.
ToBongos
Conga
Fò mf
Wemustsearchforwhichpathtotake.
nouchèche - konnen - kichimen - noudwefè.
doun mp -ga, dounga-la, - dounga --la,dounga-la,-ela,-dounga, - dounga-la, - dounga-la, - dounga-la,-ela.mf
doun mp -gala,-ela - o.mp
ye.
Gen mfespress. yonjanpou mp S. A.
dounga-la,-ela - o. -
There’sawayyougottabe.
Genyon espress. jannoudwe f ye. rit. 98
Genyen - yonjanpouye.
There’sawaywemustbe. - -
dounga, - dounga-la, - dounga-la, - dounga-la,-ela - o. mf - Genyon espress. jannoudwe f ye.
Conga
dounga --la,ela - o.o, -
Gen mf yon espress. jannoudwe f ye. ye, o. mp
Gen mf yon espress. jannoudwe f ye. rit. f
Bongos
Conga
c.q=84rall.
c.q=126 H 103
Weallhaveapath. .. ∑ > There’sawayyougottabe.
Chak mp moungen yonchimen. - ou p -wo! Gonjanpouye,
Chak mp moungen yonchimen. - Gon mp janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpou
Chak mp moungen yonchimen. - Gon mp janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpou
Chak mf moungenyonchimen. - Gon mp janpouye,gonjanpouye, gon mf janpou p rall. mp
S. A. T. B.
Bongos
There’sawaywemustbe. > There’sawayyougottabe.
Conga gonjanpouye. Gonjannoudweye. ou mf -wo! Gonjanpouye. 108 ye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye.Gon f janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpou ye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye. ou mf -wo! Gonjanpouye. ye, gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye.Gon f janpouye,gonjanpouye, gonjanpou mp mf
Bongos
Conga
gonjanpouye.
Bongos
Gonjannoudweye.zi mp -gidi-pap - -padap, - zopap - -padap, - zipap 112 ye,
gonjanpouye.
gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye.zi mp -gidi-pap - -padap, - zopap - -padap, - zipap
Gonjannoudweye.zi mp -gidi-pap - -padap, - zopap - -padap, - zipap ye,
gonjanpouye.Gonjannoudweye. Gon mp jan pouye.
Conga -padap, - zopo-do-po-po.I 115 -padap, - zopo-do-po-po. - There's mf awayyououghta-be. There'sawayyoumustbe. -padap, - zopo-do-po-po.zo mp -podo-po-po. - doum, mf pogo - -doum, paga - -doum,pogo - -doum,
Bongos
Conga
Bongos
Conga
There's f awayyououghta-be.
Gonjannoudweye, ouwo. - There's f a Gonjanpouye,gonjanpouye. f There'sawayyououghta-be. -doum,pogo --doum,pogo. - Gonjanpouye,gonjanpouye. f pogo - -doum, paga mp
There'sawaywemustbe. Gonjannoudweye (he) 121 wayyououghta-be. There'sawaywemustbe. Gon
janpouye,gonjannoudwe
There'sawaywemustbe. Gonjannoudweye.Gon
janpouye,gonjannoudwe -doum, pogo - -doum, paga - -doum,pogo-doum, - pogo.-Gon
janpouye,gonjannoudwe
Conga zo f -podo --po,dopo --dopo, - zopo --dopo-dop. - zopop, - podop - -po,zapa-tap - -tap.
ye.
zopo --dopo-dop, - ouwoy. - zapa-tap - -tap. ouye. f zopo --dopo-dop, - ouwoy. - zapa-tap - -tap. ou-
zopo --dopo-dop, - ouwoy. - zapa-tap - -tap. ou-
There’sawayyougottabe.
Conga zopo --po,zigi-da-pa-dap - -tap. Genyonjanpouye. 126 -woy. zigi-da-pa-dap - -tap. Genyonjanpouye. woy, p woy,woy,woy,ou-woy. zigi-da-pa-dap - -tap. Genyonjanpouye. zo fespress. -podo - -po,zopo --pow,* gliss. -woy. zigi-da-pa-dap - -tap. Genyonjanpouye. woy, mf woy,zopo --pow,*
Bongos
S.
Bongos
There's f awayyououghta - be,there'sawayyoumust
There's f awayyououghta - be,there'sawayyoumust be, there'sawayyoumust be, there'sawayyoumust
muss,muss,muss,must,be. ff Gonjanpouye! (he)
muss,muss,muss,must,be.
Gonjanpouye! (he) muss,muss,muss,must,be.
Gonjanpouye! (he) muss,muss,muss,must,be.
Gonjanpouye! (he)
G on Jan Pou Ye – IPA
PERUSALSCORE
G on jan pou ye.
[ gõ ʒã pu je ]
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
[ gɛ̃ jõ ʒã nu due je ] Chak moun gen yon desten, chak moun gen yon chimen.
[ ʃak mun gɛ̃ jõ desˈtɛ̃ ʃak mun gɛ̃ jõ ʃiˈmɛ̃ ]
Chèche, chèche konnen ki bon chimen pou fè.
[ ʃɛˈʃe ʃɛˈʃe kõˈnɛ̃ ki bõ ʃiˈmɛ̃ pu fɛ ]
Nan koze lavi sa kote anpil bwè pwa, [ ˈnã koˈze laˈvi sa koˈte ãˈpil bwɛ pua ]
Yon moun se veye zo w pou pa pri nan twa wa.
[ jõ mun se ˈveje zo u pu pa pri nã tua ua ]
Ou te mèt anperè, ou te mèt lwijanboje,
[ u te mɛt ãpeˈrɛ u te met luiʒãboˈʒe ]
Genyen yon jan pou ye.
[ gɛ̃ˈjɛ̃ jõ ʒã pu je ]
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
[ gɛ̃ jõ ʒã nu due je ]
Lanati gen yon jan li regle tout bagay.
[ lanaˈtsi gɛ̃ jõ ʒã li reˈgle tut baˈgai ] Si nou pa bliye sa, nou p ap tonbe nan tray.
[ si nu pa bliˈje sa nu pap tõˈbe nã trai ]
Tout lapriyè gen amèn.
[ tut lapriˈjɛ gɛ̃ a ˈ mɛn ]
Tout boutèy gen bouchon.
[ tut buˈtɛi gɛ̃ buˈʃõ ]
Lalwa ak lajistis se remèd madichon.
[ laˈlua ak laʒisˈtis se re ˈmɛd madziˈʃõ ]
Moun ki entelijan respekte règleman.
[ mun ki ɛ̃teliˈʒã ˈrespekte rɛgleˈmã ] Moun ki pa vle danse pa dwe rantre nan won.
[ mun ki pa vle dãˈse pa due rãˈtre nã wõ ] Bonte avèk sajès se de pi gwo richès.
[ ˈbõte a ˈvɛk saˈʒɛs se de pi guo riˈʃɛs ] Gen yon jan pou ye.
[ gɛ̃ jõ ʒã pu je ]
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
[ gɛ̃ jõ ʒã nu due je ]
Menm jimo ki jimo pa genyen menm desten.
[ mɛ̃m ˈʒimo ki ˈʒimo pa ˈgɛ̃jɛ̃ mɛ̃m desˈtɛ̃ ] Chak moun gen yon desten, chak moun gen yon chimen.
[ ʃak mun gɛ̃ jõ desˈtɛ̃ ʃak mun gɛ̃ jõ ʃiˈmɛ̃ ]
Fò nou chèche konnen ki chimen nou dwe fè.
[ fɔ nu ʃɛˈʃe kõˈnɛ̃ ki ʃiˈmɛ̃ nu due fɛ ]
Genyen yon jan pou ye.
[ gɛ̃ˈjɛ̃ jõ ʒã pu je ]
Gen yon jan nou dwe ye.
[ gɛ̃ jõ ʒã nu due je ]
zo-po-go-dop-po
[ ˈzo po go dop po ] zo-pop-po-dop-po
[ zo pop po ˈdop po ]
zi-gi-dap
[ ˈzi gi dap ] zi-gi-di-pap
[ ˈzi gi di pap ]
zi-gi-di-pap pa-dap
[ ˈzi gi di pap pa ˈdap ]
zi-gi-di-pap-pa-dap
[ ˈzi gi di pap pa dap ]
zo-pap-pa-dap
[ ˈzo pap pa dap ] zi-pap-pa-dap
[ ˈzi pap pa dap ]
zo-po-do-po-po
[ zo po ˈdo po po ]
ou-wo, ou-woy, woy
[ u ˈ wo u ˈ wo ‿ i wo ‿ i ] wi, yes
[ wi jɛs ] ou-wa-yo, ou-wo
[ u ˈwa jo u wo ]
doun-ga
[ ˈdun ga ] doun-ga-la
[ dunˈga la ] doun-ga-la, e-la
[ dunˈga la ˈe la ] doun-ga-la, e-la-o [ dunˈga la ˈe la o ]
doum-po-go doum-pa-ga
[ dum ˈ po go dum ˈ pa ga ]
za-ka-tap
[ ˈza ka tap ]
zo-po-po, zi-gi-da-pa-dap-tap
[ ˈ zo po po zi gi ˈda pa dap tap ]
zo-po-pow, pla-pla-plaw
[ zo po po u pla pla pla u ]
For an audio pronunciation guide and individual practice tracks, go to: sydneyguillaume.com/practice -tracks
