Welcome to The Interesting Times podcast. We are happy to present our first original episode. Sadly, there is so much tumult afoot around the world that many people may be unaware of the political crisis racking Haiti at the moment. Fortunately, we are lucky to have Haitian national and scholar, Prof. Eguelson Leganeur join us to help better understand the ongoing situation as well as some of the broader social and historical forces at play. As a bonus, beyond being an intellectual and analyst of the first order, Prof. Leganeur also happens to be an accomplished musician. His original recording N a Rive (We’ll make it) serves as the outro music for the episode. It is just a gorgeous song and one that is needed at this moment. He was also kind enough to provide an English translation of the song (performed in Haitian Creole) which I will paste in below.
Our original theme music was written, performed, and produced exclusively for The Interesting Times podcast by another brilliant musician I am fortunate enough to know, Jordan Lewis.
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N a rive (We’ll make it) English Translation
[Verse I]
The sun has risen
Time to wake up
This is a new day
What will it bring?
Moving forward
Our only choice
To every face we meet
The usual greetings
That’s the way it is in our land
[Pre-chorus 1]
Have we chased joy away?
Have we given up on hope?
[Chorus 1]
We’ll make it
We must forge our path forward
A road to erase the scars of misery
We’ll get there
We must create our own garden
A plain for our flowers to bloom
[Verse 2]
To me, my friend, you’re the shadow
There isn’t a fence between us
Why can’t we see that?
For when you fail
My flame is snuffed
And your injuries
Make my soul bleed
Will we ever understand that?
[Pre-chorus 2]
We mustn’t chase joy away
We mustn’t give up on hope
[Chorus 2]
We’ll make it
If we forge our path forward
A road to erase the scars of misery
We’ll get there If we create our own garden
A plain for our flowers to bloom
We’ll make it
What's 'going on' in Haiti?