Canto Das Tres Racas
Clara Nunes Lyrics

The song "Canto das Três Raças" by Clara Nunes is a heart-wrenching reflection on the pain and suffering of three races that have been oppressed throughout Brazil's history. The song begins with the lines "Ninguém ouviu/ Um soluçar de dor/ No canto do Brasil," which means "No one heard/ A sob of pain/ In the song of Brazil." The verse describes the collective pain felt by the people, which has been ignored or silenced by those in power.

The song goes on to describe the sorrowful cries of the indigenous people, who were once proud warriors but were taken captive and forced to sing through their pain. The next verse refers to the African slaves who rebelled and found refuge in the Quilombo dos Palmares, where they sang songs of revolt. However, despite their rebellions and the Inconfidentes' attempt to overthrow the colonial power, the people remained oppressed.

The song ends with the lines "Esse canto que devia/ Ser um canto de alegria/ Soa apenas/ Como um soluçar de dor" meaning "This song that should have been/ A song of joy/ Resounds only/ As a sob of pain." The lyrics of "Canto das Três Raças" paint a bleak picture of the struggles and hardships faced by the indigenous, African and mixed-race people of Brazil. The song stands as a powerful reminder of the price that has been paid for the country's freedom and the importance of recognizing and addressing the injustices that continue to exist.