Escudos Lyrics in English by Maria Gadú
Escudos literally translates to "shields". It's an intriguing word that immediately brings to mind protection and defense, but also hidden vulnerabilities.
In the song, Maria Gadú sings, "Não contei ainda teus escudos surdos" (I haven't counted your deaf shields yet). This poetic phrase suggests that the person she's singing to has emotional defenses that are not only strong but also unresponsive or unhearing, adding a layer of mystery and depth to their relationship.
Maria Gadú opens "Escudos" (Shields) admitting she doesn't even have a name for the person she's singing about: "Eu não tenho nome pra você dizer" (I don't have a name for you to say). That's the whole song in one line. She's trying to read someone who won't let her in.
She reaches for stage tricks to describe him: "Tua tanga na manga do mágico falso" (Your thong in the fake magician's sleeve), a magician whose whole act is misdirection. His hands go into the hat, his body works the stage, and none of it is real. She keeps circling back to the same plea, "Deixe teu ser mudo me fazer falar" (Let your silent self make me speak). She wants his silence to answer her, because his words clearly won't. The title line names the actual problem: "Não contei ainda teus escudos surdos" (I haven't counted your deaf shields yet). His defenses don't just block her, they don't even listen. So she studies him from a distance instead, patient the way Shiva told her to be, and warns that her own anger will do the asking if patience runs out.
