Favela
Cidade Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é
Favela
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é
As roupas na corda
Representam a bandeira da favela
São os ternos dos burgueses
Os que trabalham as leis
Trabalham as leis pra Dona Maria
Principalmente pensando em si próprios
Não beneficiam, não
Quem lava e passa sua roupa todo dia
Favela, favela, favela
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é, como ela é
Favela
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é, é
As roupas na corda
Representam a bandeira da favela
São os ternos dos burgueses
Dependurados e secando ao sol do subúrbio
Os que trabalham as leis
Trabalham as leis pra Dona Maria
Principalmente pensando em si próprios
Não, não, não, não beneficiam, não
Quem lava e passa sua roupa todo dia
Favela
Só quem vive nela, sabe como ela é, como ela é
Favela
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é, é
Pra manter o luxo
Ostentando o vício
Ele vai se corrompendo
Vai deixando o lixo pra Dona Maria limpar
Pra manter o luxo
Ostentando o vício
Ele vai se corrompendo
Vai deixando o lixo pra-
Favela, favela, favela, favela
Somente só quem vive nela
Somente só quem vive nela
Somente só
"Favela" by Cidade Negra is a song that sheds light on the struggles of living in a favela, which is a ghetto or slum in Brazil. The lyrics describe the daily lives of those who reside in the favela, where clothes drying on a clothesline symbolize the flag of the community. The clothes are often those of the bourgeois leaving the suburbs for work, while those left behind work tirelessly to maintain their households. The government officials who enforce the law often do not have the interests of the community in mind, but rather, are looking out for their own gain. The only ones who truly know what it's like to live in the favela are those who call it home.
The song speaks to the divide and injustice that persists throughout Brazil, where many have a much different reality than those who live in the favelas, and it also highlights the hard work and resilience of the favela residents. The line, "Pra manter o luxo ostentando o vício, ele vai se corrompendo, vai deixando o lixo pra Dona Maria limpar," refers to those in power who will maintain their wealth by any means necessary, and it's the Dona Marias of the world who have to take on the dirty work, often with very little recognition or thanks.
Overall, "Favela" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that gives voice to those who are often overlooked and marginalized in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Favela
This song is about the hardships and realities of living in a favela, also known as a Brazilian slum.
Só quem vive nela sabe como ela é
Only those who actually live in a favela can truly understand what it is like.
As roupas na corda
The clothes hanging on the clothesline serve as a symbol for the favela's identity.
Representam a bandeira da favela
The clothes represent the flag of the favela, a proud identity for its residents.
São os ternos dos burgueses
The suits hanging on the clothesline belong to the wealthy, but are now drying in the sun in the favela.
Dependurados e secando ao sol do subúrbio
These suits are drying in the sun, exposing the contrast between the opulence of the wealthy and the struggles of the favela.
Os que trabalham as leis
The people who work in the legal system are being described in the next lines.
Trabalham as leis pra Dona Maria
They work to pass laws that benefit people like Dona Maria, an everyday resident of the favela.
Principalmente pensando em si próprios
However, their main focus is their own self-interest rather than the people they are meant to serve.
Não beneficiam, não
They do not benefit the everyday people of the favela.
Quem lava e passa sua roupa todo dia
Those who do the laundry and cleaning every day are not seeing any benefits from the laws passed by those in power.
Pra manter o luxo
Those in power will stop at nothing to maintain their own luxury and lavish lifestyles.
Ostentando o vício
Their addiction to their own luxury and power is what drives them to continue exploiting the favela.
Ele vai se corrompendo
Their addiction is leading to their own corruption and immoral actions.
Vai deixando o lixo pra Dona Maria limpar
The aftermath of their luxurious and corrupt lifestyle is left for everyday people like Dona Maria to clean up and deal with.
Somente só quem vive nela
The refrain of the song repeats the idea that only those who live in a favela can truly understand the difficult realities of life there.
Writer(s): Bino, Da Gama, Lazao, Toni Garrido
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Henrique Mota
Uma pena nos shows não tocarem os sons "lado b".