Fera Ferida Lyrics in English Caetano Veloso
Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Fera Ferida by Caetano Veloso from Portuguese to English.
Quando você for convidado pra subir no adro
When you are invited to go up to the churchyard
Da fundação casa de Jorge Amado
Of the Jorge Amado House Foundation
Pra ver do alto a fila de soldados, quase todos pretos
To see from above the line of soldiers, almost all Black
Dando porrada na nuca de malandros pretos
Beating the back of the necks of Black rascals
De ladrões mulatos e outros quase brancos
Of mulatto thieves and others almost white
Tratados como pretos
Treated as Black people
Só pra mostrar aos outros quase pretos
Just to show the other almost Black people
E são quase todos pretos
And they are almost all Black
Como é que pretos, pobres e mulatos
How Black people, poor people, and mulattos
E quase brancos quase pretos de tão pobres são tratados
And almost white people, almost Black from being so poor, are treated
E não importa se os olhos do mundo inteiro
And it doesn't matter if the eyes of the whole world
Possam estar por um momento
May be for a moment
(Voltados para o largo)
(Turned towards the square)
Onde os escravos eram castigados
Where the slaves were punished
E hoje um batuque um batuque
And today a drumbeat, a drumbeat
Com a pureza de meninos uniformizados de escola secundária
With the purity of uniformed high school boys
(Em dia de parada)
(On parade day)
E a grandeza épica de um povo em formação
And the epic grandeur of a people in formation
Nos atrai, nos deslumbra e estimula
Attracts us, dazzles us, and stimulates us
Não importa nada
Nothing matters
Nem o traço do sobrado
Neither the outline of the townhouse
Nem a lente do fantástico
Nor the lens of Fantástico (TV show)
Nem o disco de Paul Simon
Nor Paul Simon's record
Ninguém, ninguém é cidadão
Nobody, nobody is a citizen
Se você for a festa do Pelô, e se você não for
If you go to the Pelô party, and if you don't go
Pense no Haiti, reze pelo Haiti
Think of Haiti, pray for Haiti
O Haiti é aqui
Haiti is here
O Haiti não é aqui
Haiti is not here
Vi condomínios rasgarem mananciais
I saw condominiums tear up water sources
A mando de quem fala de Deus e age como satanás
At the command of those who speak of God and act like Satan
(Uma lei) quem pode menos, chora mais
(A law) whoever can do less, cries more
Corre do gás, luta, morre, enquanto o sangue escorre
Runs from the gas, fights, dies, while the blood flows
É nosso sangue nobre, que a pele cobre
It's our noble blood, that the skin covers
Tamo' no corre, por dias melhores, sem lobby
We're on the hustle, for better days, without lobbying
Hei, pequenina, não chore
Hey, little one, don't cry
Tv cancerígena
Carcinogenic TV
Aplaude prédio em cemitério indígena
Applauds building on indigenous cemetery
Auschwitz ou gueto? Índio ou preto?
Auschwitz or ghetto? Indigenous or Black?
Mermo jeito irmão, extermínio
Same way, brother, extermination
Reportagem de um tempo mau, tipo Plínio
Report of a bad time, like Pliny
Alphaville foi invasão, incrimine-os
Alphaville was an invasion, incriminate them
Eu grito como fuzis, úzis, por brasis
I shout like rifles, Uzis, for Brazils
Que vem de baixo, igual Machado de Assis
That comes from below, like Machado de Assis
Ainda vivemos como nossos pais, Elis
We still live like our parents, Elis
Quanto vale uma vida humana, me diz?
How much is a human life worth, tell me?
Então
So
Se você for a festa do Pelô, e se você não for
If you go to the Pelô party, and if you don't go
Pense no Haiti, reze pelo Haiti
Think of Haiti, pray for Haiti
O Haiti é aqui
Haiti is here
O Haiti não é aqui
Haiti is not here
O Haiti é aqui
Haiti is here
O Haiti não é aqui
Haiti is not here
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Leandro Roque De Oliveira, Renan Samam
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malandros — rascals / scoundrels
Malandros is a fascinating word that translates to "rascals" or "scoundrels," but it carries a much richer cultural weight in Brazil.
In the song, it's used to describe marginalized individuals, often in a context of social injustice. It evokes a sense of street smarts and a certain defiance, making it more nuanced than a simple translation might suggest. This word is key to understanding the song's social commentary.
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