Young Artists for Haiti: "Wavin' Flag" (2010)

Young Artists for Haiti is a movement to engage Canada's young musicians to continue to inspire an ongoing effort and contribution to Canadian charities for their work to help the people of Haiti overcome the devastation from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that rocked the country on January 12, 2010. More than 50 of Canadian artists gathered at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia to record a rendition of renowned hip hop artist K'naan's "Wavin' Flag".

In accordance with wikipedia, produced by Canadian producer, Bob Ezrin, the song was reworked to include specific lyrics for Haiti and was released on March 12, 2010 with proceeds going to Free The Children, War Child Canada and World Vision Canada. Ezrin stated, "With the wealth of young artists coming out of Canada, it was obvious that this is something we had to do. K'naan's lyrics in Wavin' Flag embody the pain, passion and determination of the Haitian people and lend the hope of a brighter future. The response from the artists has been sensational, and I am so proud that together we may help to make a difference."


- Lyrics:

[chorus:]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me 'Freedon'
just like a wavin' flag
and then it goes back, and then it goes back
and then it goes back, and then it goes . . .

Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
but violent-prone, poor people zone,
But it's my home, all I have known,
where I got grown, streets we would roam
Out of the darkness, I came the farthest
out of the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak,
accept no defeat, surrender retreat

[bridge:]
So we strugglin'
fightin' to eat
and we wonderin'
when we'll be free
so we patiently wait
for that fateful day
it's not far away,
but for now we say:

[chorus]

So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor,
I heard them say, love is the way
love is the answer, that's what they say
But look how they treat us, make us believers
we fight their battles, then they deeive us
try to control us, they couldn't hold us
'cause we just move forward like Buffalo soldiers

[Bridge]
[Chorus]