NOTE: The written transcription is notably different from that of the currently live video version above, so make sure to read along!
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
N jarabi, n makɔnɔ yan
My love, wait for me here
Dennin, miiri man ɲi
Baby, thinking (too much) is no good
N jarabi, n makɔnɔ yan
My love, wait for me here
Dennin, nɛnɛ man ɲi
Baby, the shivers [lit. “the cold”] are no good
Nnn, nɛnɛ man ɲi
Brr, the shivers are no good
Nnn, Ala! Ɛ, nɛnɛ man ɲi duniya la
Brr, oh God! The shivers are no good in this life
N barokɛɲɔgɔnnu, n ko nɛnɛ man ɲi, Ala
To those with whom I chat, I tell you the shivers are no good, oh God
N wolofa bɛrɛlu, alu ka solo to ne ye
To my fathers, may your protection remain upon me
Ne woloba bɛrɛlu, n bolo bɛ solo nɔ, Ala
To my mothers, my hands are behind my back [a gesture of humility], oh God
Ala, dɔnkili jelilu, alu [aw] ka yafa ne ma
Oh God, singing griots, you must forgive me
Ne man’a fɔ nɛnɛ, sanji nɛnɛko tɛ
When I say “the shivers”, it’s not those of the rain
Ne man’a fɔ nɛnɛ, fonɛnɛ nɛnɛko tɛ, Ala
When I say “the shivers”, it’s not those of the winter, oh God
Ne man’a fɔ nɛnɛ... Samiya nɛnɛ tɛ ((diya))
When I say “the shivers”... Those of the farming season aren’t so sweet
Ne man’a fɔ nɛnɛ, jarabi nɛnɛ don
When I say “the shivers”, it's the shivers of romantic passion
Ne kunfɔɲɔgɔn, deli man ɲi
My confidant, affection is no good
Jarabi man ɲi! Ayi [aw] m’a lɔn, nɛnɛ man ɲi, Ala
Romantic passion isn't good! Don’t you know, the shivers aren’t good, oh God
Nɛnɛ man ɲi
The shivers are no good
Gassama Diaby, Diaby, ne b'i fo, Ala
Gassama Diaby, Diaby, I salute you, oh God
Ala, Gassama Diaby, diɲɛ ye jigi ye
Oh God, Gassama Diaby, life is (about) hope
Cɛ, Gassama Diaby, i ye ne jigi bɔ, Ala
Man, Gassama Diaby, you gave me hope, oh God
Ala, Masidé Gassama den, ne b'i fo
Oh God, ((child of Masidé Gassama)), I thank you
N ko, Awa Duguré den, ne b'i fo, Ala
I say, ((child of Awa Duguré)), I thank you, oh God
N ko, Asa Suguna cɛ, ne b'i fo
I say, ((Asa Suguna's husband)), I thank you
N ko, Awa Suko, diɲɛ ye jigi ye, Ala
I say, Awa Suko, life is (about) hope, oh God
N ko, Masidé Gassama, diɲɛ ye sumu-kanu ye
I say, Masidé Gassama, life is (about) ((late-night love))
Ala, Hamady Gassama, i ye ne jigi ye, Ala
Oh God, Hamady Gassama, you are my hope, oh God
Mɔgɔ bɛ kɛ mɔgɔ fɛ min b'i fɛ
A person loves the person who loves them
Mɔgɔ (bɛ) tugu mɔgɔ la min b'i fɛ, Ala
A person follows the person who loves them, oh God
Oumou bɛ kɛ mɔgɔ fɛ min bɛ n fɛ, Ala
Oumou loves the person who loves me, oh God
Kana nɔrɔ mɔgɔ la min t'i fɛ
Don’t hold on to a person who doesn’t love you
N ko, Gassama Diaby, hinɛ b’i ((dege)), Ala
I say, Gassama Diaby, compassion teaches you, oh God
Ala, Gassama Diaby, fali ma deli si dɔn
Oh God, Gassama Diaby, a donkey knows not affection [“Some men don’t know how to treat a woman”]
N ko Gassama Diaby, ((hami na nɛnɛ la)), Ala
I say, Gassama Diaby, worrying about the shivers, oh God
Ala, Gassama Diaby, diɲɛ ye sumu ye
Oh God, Gassama Diaby, life is (about) late nights
Gassama Diaby, deli man ɲi
Gassama Diaby, affection is no good
Jarabi man ɲi! Ayi [aw] m’a lɔn, miiri man ɲi
Romantic passion is no good! Don’t you know, thinking (too much) is no good
N jarabi, n makɔnɔ yan
My love, wait for me here
Dennin, miiri man ɲi
Baby, thinking (too much) is no good
N jarabi, n makɔnɔ yan
My love, wait for me here
Dennin, nɛnɛ man ɲi
Baby, shivers are no good
Nnn! Nɛnɛ man ɲi
Brr! The shivers are no good
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
Ne wulila don min, Ala
On the day I got up, oh God
Jɔn bɛɛ n’i dakan
To each person, their own destiny
Ka taa la bon na
And went to lay down in the room
N ma se kuma la
I wasn’t able to speak
N jarabi ya [ka] bon na
In the room of my love
A ma se kuma la
He wasn’t able to speak
Ka n sen la a sen kan
Putting my leg against his leg
A sen bɛɛ sumalen
His leg all cold
Ka na n bolo la a bolo kan
Putting my hand against his hand
Ne fari bɛɛ sumana
My whole body gone cold
N jarabi bolo kan, Ala
Against my love’s hand, oh God
N fari bɛɛ sumana
My whole body gone cold
Ka na n bolo la a disi la
I put my hand against his chest
A disi bɛɛ sumana
His whole chest gone cold
N jarabi disi (kan), ala
Against my love’s chest, oh God
Ne ko, disi bɛɛ sumalen
I say, his whole chest all cold
Ka na ne bolo la a naga la
Putting my hand at his waist
N fari bɛɛ sumana
My whole body gone cold
N jarabi naga la, Ala
At my love’s waist, oh God
N fari bɛɛ sumana
My whole body gone cold
Jarabi nɛnɛ, nɛnɛ man ɲi
The shivers of romantic passion! The shivers are no good
Nɛnɛ man ɲi
The shivers are no good
Ayi [Aw] m’a lɔn, diya tɛ kɛlɛ sa
Y’all don’t know, good feelings can’t stop quarrels
Miiri man ɲi
Thinking (too much) isn’t good
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
A dennin! An bɛn sɔgɔma! Ala
Ah baby! We’ll meet in the morning! Oh God
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
Miiri man ɲi
Thinking (too much) is no good
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
Gassama Diaby, an bɛn sɔgɔma, Ala
Gassama Diaby, we’ll meet in the morning! Oh God
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
Diaby, ne b'i fo
Diaby, I thank you
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
A dennin! An bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See ya in the morning
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning
Miiri man ɲi
Thinking (too much) is no good
A dennin! K'an bɛn sɔgɔma
Ah baby! See you in the morning