Dodo ti piti manman an
Dodo, ti titit manman an
Dodo, ti titit papa l
Si li pa dodo, krab la va manje l
Si li pa dodo, krab la va manje l

Papa ou pa la, l ale la rivyè,
Manman ou pa la, l ale chache bwa
Si ou pa dodo, krab la va manje w
Si ou pa dodo, krab la va manje w

Dodo, ti titit manman l
Dodo, ti titit papa l
Si li pa dodo, krab la va manje l
Si li pa dodo, krab la va manje l

Manman ou pa la, l ale la rivyè
Papa ou pa la, l ale peche krab
Si ou pa dodo, krab la va manje w
Si ou pa dodo, krab la va manje w

Dodo titit,
Krab nan kalalou.
Dodo titit!
Krab nan kalalou!

Rest now, my baby, beneath the moon’s gentle gleam,
In the cradle of dreams, where the softest whispers teem.
O slumber, child of my heart, so tender, so mild,
For the night cradles mysteries, sweet and undefiled.

Hush, my little one, with eyes closed tight,
In the embrace of sleep, find solace, find light.
Lest the crab, in its stealth, seeks a feast so grim,
Lest it creeps from the shadows, when the lights dim.

Your father, he wanders by the river’s embrace,
Your mother, in the forest, moves with grace.
Should slumber evade you, the crab lurks near,
Should your eyes remain open, it preys on your fear.

Dream, my heart’s joy, under the star’s soft glow,
Dream, my precious one, let your peace overflow.
For if sleep eludes, the crab awaits its chance,
For if you resist rest, it commences its dance.

Gone is your mother, to the river’s serene song,
Gone is your father, where the wild crabs belong.
Yet, should your eyelids not meet, the crab plots its snare,
Yet, without sleep’s embrace, you must beware.

So close now, my darling, let dreams weave their tale,
In slumber’s sweet silence, where love does prevail.
For within the gumbo, the unhinged crab now does dwell,
In the pot, it simmers, under sleep’s enchanting spell.

Rest now, little wonder, let night’s magic unfold,
In dreams, be cradled, in warmth, not in cold.
For the crab rests in gumbo, its journey complete,
Sleep, little one, in dreams’ land so sweet.

Translated by; Fe Bean