He was considered the "ambassador" of the Favelas ( Brazilian Shanty Towns ). He was the singer of the Malandragem.
Bezerra was knowledgeable about life in the favelas, and the songs he sang are filled with slang terms having to do with drug dealing, the law, etc., and are often humorous. Later in life, not long before his passing, Bezerra gave up this life and became an evangelical Christian.
Eu Sou Favela
Bezerra da Silva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
aqui fala o seu embaixador"
A favela, nunca foi reduto de marginal
A favela, nunca foi reduto de marginal
Ela só tem gente humilde Marginalizada
e essa verdade não sai no jornal
A favela é, um problema social
A favela é, um problema social
Sim mas eu sou favela
Posso falar de cadeira
Minha gente é trabalhadeira
Nunca teve assistência social
Ela só vive lá
Porque para o pobre, não tem outro jeito
Apenas só tem o direito
A um salário de fome e uma vida normal.
A favela é, um problema social
A favela é, um problema social
Repete tudo de novo.
The opening lines of Bezerra da Silva's song "Eu Sou Favela" are an assertion of the artist's identity as an ambassador and defender of all favelas across Brazil. This sense of ownership and attachment to favelas is rooted in the fact that Bezerra da Silva himself grew up in a favela in Rio de Janeiro. In the following lines, he goes on to challenge the notion that favelas are hotbeds of criminal activity, pointing out that they are populated by humble people who are marginalized by society. He laments the fact that this reality is not reflected in mainstream media, which tends to perpetuate negative stereotypes of favelas.
For Bezerra da Silva, the favela is not simply a physical space, but a complex social and political problem that requires attention and action. He acknowledges that favelas are beset with social problems and deprivation, but he insists that the blame cannot be placed solely on their inhabitants who are there simply because there are no other options available to them. He points out that these communities suffer from a lack of social and economic support and that their residents are forced to endure lives of poverty and hardship, with incomes that are barely enough to sustain them.
Line by Line Meaning
Em defesa de todas as favelas do meu Brasil,
I am speaking up for all the favelas in Brazil.
aqui fala o seu embaixador
I am their ambassador.
A favela, nunca foi reduto de marginal
The favela has never been a haven for criminals.
Ela só tem gente humilde Marginalizada
It only has marginalized, humble people.
e essa verdade não sai no jornal
And this truth never makes it to the news.
A favela é, um problema social
The favela is a social issue.
Sim mas eu sou favela
But I am favela myself.
Posso falar de cadeira
I can talk about its reality from experience.
Minha gente é trabalhadeira
My people are hardworking.
Nunca teve assistência social
They never had social assistance.
Ela só vive lá
They only survive there.
Porque para o pobre, não tem outro jeito
Because for the poor, there are no other options.
Apenas só tem o direito
They only have the right to a meager salary and a normal life.
A um salário de fome e uma vida normal.
A salary that barely sustains them and a life that is average.
Repete tudo de novo.
Repeats everything again.
Writer(s): Osvaldo Alves Pereira, Luiz Sergio Carvalho de Freitas
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.