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
