Haiti I Am Sorry

"Haiti I am Sorry", or simply "Haiti", is a calypso song written and composed by David Rudder, and first recorded in 1988 for the album Haiti by David Rudder and Charlie's Roots. The song, which begins with the words: "Toussaint was a mighty man/ and to make matters worse he was black...",^[1] is a tribute to the glory and suffering of Haiti, and was described in the AllMusic review as "a remarkable ode to Caribbean unity".^[2][3]

"Haiti I am Sorry"
Song by David Rudder
from the album Haiti
Released	1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	Calypso, reggae, soca
Length	5:26
Label	Sire, Lypsoland, London
Songwriter(s)	David Rudder
Producer(s)	Joe R. Brown, Charlie's Roots

Personnel

Musicians David Rudder – lead vocals, harmonica, concept, writing, backing vocals Pelham Goddard – keyboards, conducting, drum programming, percussion Louis Junior Wharwood – guitar, backing vocals Tony Voisin – guitar B. J. Cameron – bass, backing vocals Emmanuel Ector – bass Carver Stevenson – saxophone Leopold Washington – saxophone Edward Elliott – trombone Haydn Robin – trumpet Mike Lindsay – trumpet Vonrick Maynard – drums Colin Stephen – percussion, congas Vernon Headley – percussion, congas Carl Jacobs – backing vocals

Production Joe R. Brown – producer, arrangements Charlie's Roots – executive producer Eric Michaud – engineering Ellis Chow Lin On – management Roy Boyke – artwork Atlas Advertising Agency – design

Impact

The song has been credited with having in 1988 "brought impoverished Creole-speaking Haiti to the attention of the English-speaking Caribbean",^[4] and is frequently referenced in connection with ongoing political and environmental problems in Haiti.^[5][6][7][8] It was selected by Margaret Busby as one her eight musical choices on Desert Island Discs in June 2021.^[9]

See also

• June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
• September 1988 Haitian coup d'état

References

1. Philip, M. NourbeSe (9 February 2010). "Letter to Haiti". M. NourbeSe Philip. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
2. Scaramuzzo, Gene. "Charlie's Roots / David Rudder | Haiti". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
3. James, Mike (25 January 2010). "Haiti I'm sorry". Catholic News.
4. Ransome, Debbie (28 August 2011). "Trinidad musician David Rudder: Calypso as commentary". BBC World Service.
5. Croft, Colin (24 January 2010). "Haiti I Am Sorry". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
6. "‘Haiti’ sung by David Rudder", When Steel Talks, 2008.
7. "Haiti should not suffer!". Jamaica Observer. 11 October 2016.
8. "Letters to the Editor: Haiti, I am sorry". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 10 July 2021.
9. Green, Alex (26 June 2021). "Pioneering publisher Margaret Busby says industry still needs more diversity". Belfast Telegraph.

External links

• David Rudder & Charlies Roots – Haiti at Discogs (list of releases)