Um comunista
Caetano Veloso Lyrics

Um mulato baiano, muito alto e mulato, filho de um italiano e de uma preta hauçá
The song starts by introducing a tall, light-skinned man from Bahia, Brazil, who was born to an Italian father and a mother who was descended from the Hauçá people of West Africa.

Foi aprendendo a ler olhando mundo à volta e prestando atenção no que não estava a vista
He learned to read by observing the world around him and paying attention to things that were not immediately visible.

Assim nasce um comunista
This is how a communist is born, by being aware of the inequalities and injustices in the world and seeking a way to address them.

Que morreu em São Paulo, baleado por homens do poder militar
The man died in São Paulo after being shot by members of the military government that controlled Brazil in the 1960s and 1970s.

Nas feições que ganhou em solo americano, a dita guerra fria, Roma, França e Bahia
His appearance was shaped by his travels to the United States during the Cold War, as well as by his experiences in Rome, France, and Bahia.

Os comunistas guardavam sonhos, os comunistas! os comunistas!
Communists cling to their dreams and ideals in the face of adversity.

O mulato baiano, mini e manual do guerrilheiro urbano que foi preso por Vargas, depois por Magalhães, por fim pelos milicos
He was a model for urban guerrillas, but was ultimately captured and persecuted by multiple Brazilian government leaders and finally the military dictatorship.

Sempre foi perseguido nas minúcias das pistas, como são os comunistas?
He was targeted and scrutinized in every detail, as all communists are, for their political beliefs and activities.

Não que seus inimigos estivessem lutando contra as nações terror que o comunismo urdia, mas por vãos interesses de poder e dinheiro, quase sempre por menos, quase nunca por mais
His enemies were not fighting against communist terrorism, but rather for petty self-interests like power and money, often settling for less and never achieving more.

O baiano morreu, eu estava no exílio, e mandei um recado: "eu que tinha morrido", e que ele estava vivo, mas ninguém entendia vida sem utopia
The artist was in exile at the time of the Baiano's death and sent a message saying that he (the artist) was the one who had died and the Baiano was still alive, but nobody understood the idea of living without ideals and dreams.

Não entendo que exista assim fala um comunista
The singer doesn't understand how a world can exist without the vision and drive of communism.

Porém, a raça humana segue trágica, sempre indecodificável, tédio, horror, maravilha
Despite the struggles of communism, humanity remains tragic and often incomprehensible, encompassing both boredom and horror as well as wonder and awe.

Ó, mulato baiano, samba o reverencia, muito embora não creia em violência e guerrilha, tédio, horror e maravilha
The song pays tribute to the Baiano and his legacy while acknowledging that he did not believe in violence or guerrilla warfare, reflecting again on the duality of boredom, horror, and wonder.

Calçadões encardidos, multidões apodrecem, há um abismo entre homens e homens, o horror
The song paints a picture of urban decay and societal rot, with a deep divide separating people and causing horror and disgust to fester.

Quem e como fará com que a terra se acenda? E desate seus nós discutindo-se Clara, Iemanjá, Maria, Iara, Iansã, Catijaçara
The song ends with a call to action, asking who and how we will light the fire of revolution, invoking several powerful female deities from various Brazilian traditions.

O mulato baiano já não obedecia as ordens de interesse que vinham de Moscou, era luta romântica ela luz e era treva, venta de maravilha, de tédio e de horror
In his later years, the Baiano no longer followed the orders he had received from Moscow for a romantic fight against oppression, reflecting the ever-present mix of wonder, horror, and boredom in the fight for justice.