Manman Drum Lullaby
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Manman Drum Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by Haiti’s traditional drum ensembles, led by the largest drum, the manman, which sets the rhythm for all the others. In Haitian Vodou ceremonies, drum ensembles typically include three sizes, the manman, segon, and boula, each playing a distinct interlocking rhythm, and specific rhythmic patterns are believed to call upon particular spirits, known as lwa, during the ceremony. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.
Lyrics & chords
An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.
Verse
What the words mean
Chords — guitar & piano
What “Manman Drum Lullaby” Means
“Manman” means mother in Haitian Creole, and it is also the name of the largest drum in Haiti’s traditional drum ensembles, the one that leads the rhythm for all the others. This original lullaby draws on those drum-ensemble images of Haitian musical life, with “manman” used as a warm address rather than a literal translation.
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- An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
- Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
- Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
- Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.
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