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Nous Sommes Ensemble - A Song for Peace

Dear brothers and sisters in the one global family, we are together - for peace! Nous Sommes Ensemble (which means "we are together" in French) is CryPeace's song to express this. A translation of the words into English is provided below.

It was so fun and fulfilling to produce this, my first song, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I am an avid poet and a pianist, but this was the first time my words were set to music. To transform them from paper to music was a collaboration. Nzanza Del and I worked for several weeks on the melody, then Del invited the rest of the talented local singers and musicians to the studio. For hours over three days, we laid down tracks, mixed, improvised, and emerged with the song. After 3 days of listening to the song come together on repeat, I still loved singing and dancing along to it! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed producing it.

 

Listen Now

Listen to the song now either below or on your favourite music app (Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, etc.).

Read the lyrics.

 

Nous Sommes Ensemble - Version COVID-19

The song expressed my hopes for the world as we faced the coronavirus crisis together so well that I asked Del and Merveille Musavuli, the female vocalist, to produce a COVID-19 version. They quickly made the changes to share this message of solidarity with the world. We can overcome COVID-19, but only if we work together.

(please scroll to the bottom of the page to play the song)

 

Nous Sommes Ensemble - Version Ebola

The song was written in the Congo in the midst of the second largest Ebola crisis to date. May God protect us from this devastating disease. We need to stick together to finally vanquish it.

(please scroll to the bottom of the page to play the song)

 

Nous Sommes Ensemble - Version Original

The original version of the song is the most lasting and universal. Written in memory of all conflicts, and all dreams for peace, it expresses my hope that we will choose peace - together.

(please scroll to the bottom of the page to play the song)

 

Learn more about the production

To learn more about how it the song was produced, and watch a fun video of the very basic one-room studio in a lively compound in Goma, DRC, please see my related blog post. As we recorded, children were dancing outside the window, a woman was cooking over a three-stone fire in the courtyard, while another woman was doing laundry in a basin. Sometimes a rooster would crow, adding its joyful voice to the music. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever enjoyed!

 

Lyrics

 

Nous Sommes Ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour la paix ou la guerre

Whether for peace or for war

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour soigner les autres ou les blesser

Whether to heal others or to hurt them

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour la justice ou l’impunité

Whether for justice or impunity

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour guérir notre pays ou tous mourir
(Soit pour nous protéger d’Ebola ou tous mourir)
(Soit pour nous protéger du COVID-19 ou tous mourir)
Whether to heal our country or all die
(Whether to protect ourselves from Ebola or all die)
(Whether to protect ourselves from COVID-19 or all die)
   

Moi, je choisis la paix

Me, I choose peace

Moi, je choisis le respect

Me, I choose respect

Moi, je choisis la justice

Me, I choose justice

Moi, je choisis la santé

Me, I choose health

   

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour pardonner ou rétribuer à jamais

Whether to forgive or revenge

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour un bon avenir ou un mauvais

Creating our future for good or ill

Nous sommes ensemble

We’re One Global Family

Soit pour l’amour ou pour la haine

Whether for love or for hate

   

Moi, je choisis pardonner

Me, I choose to forgive

Moi, je choisis contribuer

Me, I choose to give

Moi, je choisis aimer

Me, I choose to love

   

Nous, nous choisissons l’amour

We, we choose love

Nous, nous choisissons l’unité

We, we choose unity

Nous, nous choisissons l’amour

We, we choose love

Nous, nous choisissons l’unité

We, we choose unity

Sommes-nous ensemble ?

Are you with us?

   

Moi, je choisis la paix

Me, I choose peace

Moi, je choisis le respect

Me, I choose respect

Moi, je choisis la justice

Me, I choose justice

Moi, je choisis la santé

Me, I choose health

Êtes-vous ensemble ?

Are you with me?

   

Moi, je choisis la paix (êtes-vous ensemble ?)

Me, I choose respect (are you with me?)

Moi, je choisis le respect (êtes-vous ensemble ?)

Me, I choose justice (are you with me?)

Moi, je choisis la justice (êtes-vous ensemble ?)

Me, I choose health (are you with me?)

Moi, je choisis la santé (êtes-vous ensemble ?)

Are you with me? (are you with me?)

 

 

Cherchons la paix avec tous

Let’s seek peace with everyone

Éradiquons le tribalisme, et l’égoïsme,
la violence du côté, du côté  

Eradicate tribalism and egoism,
put violence aside, put it aside

Car sans la paix il n’y a pas de vie meilleure

Because without peace there is no better life

Car sans la paix il n’y a que le mort

Because without peace there is nothing but strife

   

Moi, je choisis la paix

Me, I choose peace

L’amour, c’est la route vers la paix

Love is the path to peace

Moi, je choisis aimer

Me, I choose love

La haine donne rien, non, non, non

Hate steals the soul that gives it control

Moi, je choisis la paix

Me, I choose peace

L’amour nous guidera vers la paix

Love will guide us towards peace

Moi, je choisis aimer

Me, I choose to love

La haine donne rien que la peine

Hate brings nothing but pain

 

Become our Partner in Peace

We need partners like you to support our future peace efforts. Learn more about our upcoming activities and various ways you can donate your time, talent, and treasure.

 

 

Listen to the Song

Nous_Sommes_Ensemble.mp3

Description: 

Nous Sommes Ensemble

Nous_Sommes_Ensemble_(Version_COVID-19).mp3

Description: 

Nous Sommes Ensemble (Version COVID-19)

Nous_Sommes_Ensemble_(Version_Ebola).mp3

Description: 

Nous Sommes Ensemble (Version Ebola)