Jacqueline Farreyrol
Jacqueline Farreyrol (b.1939) is a singer, actress and ex-senator, who has played a large role in the cultural and political life of Réunion throughout her long and varied career. This song, written and sang in créole, is one of her best known and pays homage to the children who grew up in great poverty in Réunion, particularly in the mid to late twentieth century. The song may be listened to here.
Z’enfant la misère[1]
Poor children before trudging to school
Wake up at four o’clock
To go get some water and some lumber
To go search for some rabbit food
Poor children have no shoes to wear
on their little feet
The summer sun is hot
Poor children left in the dust
[Chorus 1]
Luckily there’s the breeze, to float his little shirt
Luckily there’s the dew, to ease his little feet
In the forest, turtle doves sing him a soothing song
School’s so far, but he’s still on track
The poor child, to stay brave, thinks of his mother
She who stayed home to cook for them all
Once it’s done it’ll be time to sow some corn
In his homeland, the poor child ploughs the land
[Repeat Chorus 1]
The poor child had a long walk, he is so tired
He hears the school bell ringing far away
Knowing that to arrive, there’s a long path ahead
His heart tightens
The poor child goes to bathe in the sea
[Chorus 2]
Luckily there’s the breeze, to make his shirt dry
Luckily he can dream, to make his sorrow fly
As he sits on the beach, his heart light as the sky
Without a worry, alone where he’s happy
[Repeat Chorus 2]
from Sega Rebours/Z’enfant la misère (1975)
Translated by Nathanaël Holsteing Dubard
[1] Z’enfant la misère – A creole phrase used for children who grew up in poverty.