Violeiros
Djavan Lyrics

Anteontem minha gente, fui juiz numa função
I was a judge at a competition of violeiros in the Northeast two days ago

De violeiros no nordeste, cantando em competição
The competition was among violeiros in the Northeast region, where they would sing and compete

Vi cantar Dimas Batista e Otacílio seu irmão
I saw Dimas Batista and his brother Otacílio singing

Ouvi um tal de Ferreira, ouvi um tal de João
I also heard Ferreira and João singing during the competition

Um a quem faltava um braço, tocava com uma só mão
One of the singers had only one arm, yet he played the viola with great ability

Mas como ele mesmo disse com veia de emoção
He said with emotion, 'I sing about hopelessness and tie knots in people's souls. Those who listen to me will remember Tomás with only one arm'

Quem me ouvir vai ter lembrança de Tomás de um braço só
Those who listen to me will remember Tomás with only one arm

Outro por nome de Euclides, pedia com voz mais rouca
Another singer named Euclides asked for Eurides' attention with a hoarse voice

Maior atenção de Eurides, mas dizem que ela era mouca
He asked for her attention, but people said she was deaf

Já o Joca de Carminha não via a hora chegar
Joca de Carminha was eager to see Nezinha arrive

Por onde anda Nezinha que não vem me ouvir cantar?
He wondered where Nezinha was, why she hasn't come to hear him sing

Aquilo é mulher de lua, dia tá bem, outro não
Nezinha was unpredictable, sometimes she was in a good mood, but sometimes she wasn't

Gosta de mim, mas não vê futuro na profissão
She liked him, but didn't see a future in his profession

Mesmo assim jurou que vinha e me fez ficar contando
She promised to come, and Joca kept waiting for her

Sem saber cadê Nezinha, Joca foi desanimando
Not knowing where Nezinha was, Joca lost his enthusiasm

Cantar os males mó de apagar um amor ardendo
The singers sang about the pain that could put out a burning love

Dentre todos repentistas Zé Jacinto é o mais menino
Of all the improvising poets, Zé Jacinto was the youngest

Esse nem tava na lista mas é neto de Jovino
He wasn't even on the list, but he was Jovino's grandson

João Braúna e Pernambuco arribaram sem cantar
João Braúna and Pernambuco were there, but didn't sing

Um porque tava de luto, o outro não quis explicar
One was in mourning, and the other didn't want to explain why he didn't sing

Cá no desvão do nordeste a vida não vale o nome
In the remotest corners of Northeastern Brazil, life is worthless

É gente que nasce e cresce pra dividir sede e fome
People are born and raised there to share thirst and hunger

Mal começou Zé de Tonha, todos caíram vencidos
As soon as Zé de Tonha started to sing, everyone was amazed

Cantando suas vergonhas foi ele o mais aplaudido
He sang about his own sorrows, and was the most applauded singer

Friagem no lajedo no ar do olhar um tormento
The cold air in the rocky highland was oppressive

Cantar os males mó de apagar um amor ardendo
The singers sang about sorrow, which could put out a burning love