In his native Cape Verde, Ildo Lobo is seen as the archipelago's greatest singers, heir to a tradition shaped by Bana and popularized worldwide by Cesaria Evora. Lobo also has strong political commitments and his plain speaking is legendary.
For years, he was the singer and star of the Os Tubaroes group, long viewed as Cape Verde's "official" band in the days of the Marxist government. As such, he regularly traveled abroad to represent his country. Os Tubaroes (The Sharks) became the ambassadors of Capeverdean music, exporting their funana, coladera and morna beats all over the world.
Today, the group is no more. One of its particularities was that none of its members was a full-time musician, they were also lawyers, doctors, civil servants and so on. In fact, Ildo Lobo is a customs officer. As you might imagine, it is difficult to keep up another career while working in the performing arts, but in countries such as Cape Verde (or Martinique for Malavoi in Paul Rosine's day), it is rarely an option for musicians to practice their art full-time. In 1996, Ildo Lobo recorded his first solo album, "Nos Morna". The record was a tribute to his father who had died a few years before and was composed entirely of mornas. Antoninho Lobo was one of Cape Verde's great singers, leaving his personal mark on the morna played on the island of Santiago, and his son is carrying on the tradition today. « Nos Morna » was produced by Mario Lucio, the charismatic front man of the band Simentera, and recorded in Paris with the finest musicians from the island of Santiago. In 2001, Ildo has released his new album entitled «Intelectual», still in partnership with his old songwriting companions, but accompanied by Cesaria Evora's musicians this time. After some health problems that kept him away from his musical activities for a while, Ildo returned to the studio during the summer 2004, together with Cesaria Evora’s musicians. The pianist Fernando (Nando) Andrade, who made the arrangements on Cesaria’s two last albums, produced the album.
Ildo decided to name the album from the song «INCONDICIONAL», the title of a morna composed by Constantino Cardoso, a young writer he wanted to give his chance. Another beautiful morna opens the CD, Nha Fidjo Matcho, the last song written by Ildo, in which a father gives advice to his son: «My son listen to my advice, Do not open your mouth to sing, If you sing or play the music, Beautiful women will cause your lost».
Alto Cutelo
Ildo Lobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Djá sêca
Raiz sticado djobi agua c′atacha
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Mudjer um simana sê lumi cá sendi
Na casa
Sê fidju na strada, sô um tá trabadja
Pâ dôzi mil reis
Marido djâ dura qui bai pa Lisboa
Contratado
Contratado
Contratado
Pá bai pá Lisboa ê bendi sê terra
Mêtadi di preço
Ali tá trabadja na tchuba na bento
Na frio
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Mão de obra barato pá mâs qui trabadja servente
Mão de obra barato, baraca sem luz comida a pressa
Inda más enganado cu sê irmon branco
Explorado
Enganado
Explorado
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Má um dia qui′mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
The song "Alto Cutelo" by Ildo Lobo speaks to the struggles and hardships of a Cape Verdean community living in the rural area of Alto Cutelo. The lyrics begin by describing the harsh reality of the lack of water for the community, with dry roots unable to reach the water they so desperately need. Next, the song talks about the challenges faced by women in the community who work hard to provide for their families while their children are left on the streets. Meanwhile, the men have to leave to find work in the big cities such as Lisbon, working long hours in companies such as CUF, Lisnave, and Jota Pimenta for minimal pay.
The song speaks to the pain and exploitation of these workers who are treated as cheap labor with no rights or fair wages. The chorus emphasizes the importance of the community coming together and taking control of their own lives and resources. By bringing awareness to the situation, the artist highlights the need for change and self-empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
Na Alto Cutelo cimbron djá cá tem
In Alto Cutelo, the earth trembles
Djá sêca
It's already dry
Raiz sticado djobi agua c′atacha
Roots are thirsty for water
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
The water is deep and the man can't reach it
Mudjer um simana sê lumi cá sendi
The woman has been without electricity for a week now
Na casa
In the house
Sê fidju na strada, sô um tá trabadja
Her child is on the streets, only she is working
Pâ dôzi mil reis
For a meager salary
Marido djâ dura qui bai pa Lisboa
Her husband left for Lisbon for a hard job
Contratado
Hired
Pá bai pá Lisboa ê bendi sê terra
He went to Lisbon to sell their land
Mêtadi di preço
Sold at a low price
Ali tá trabadja na tchuba na bento
He is working there in the rain and cold
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
In the CUF, Lisnave, and Jota Pimenta factories
Mão de obra barato pá mâs qui trabadja servente
Cheap labor for those who work as servants
Mão de obra barato, baraca sem luz comida a pressa
Cheap labor, living in shacks without electricity, eating hastily
Inda más enganado cu sê irmon branco
Even more deceived than his white brother
Explorado
Exploited
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
But one day he will return to the land
Monti gordo i malagueta
Full of hills and peppers
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
They have to give them water
Cú força na braço
With strength in their arms
Consciência di mim
My conscience
Ê mi qui trabadja
I am the one who works
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Land and power are for me
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
With the earth trembling in Cutelo
Minino na tchón (la la la)
Children on the ground
E barco na porto (la la la)
And boats in the port
Nôs terra
Our land
Writer(s): Renato Cardoso
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cg5362
Na Alto Cutelo cimbron djá cá tem
Djá sêca
Raiz sticado djobi agua c'atacha
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Djá sêca
Mudjer um simana sê lumi cá sendi
Na casa
Sê fidju na strada, sô um tá trabadja
Pâ dôzi mil reis
Marido djâ dura qui bai pa Lisboa
Contratado
Contratado
Contratado
Pá bai pá Lisboa ê bendi sê terra
Mêtadi di preço
Ali tá trabadja na tchuba na bento
Na frio
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Mão de obra barato pá mâs qui trabadja servente
Mão de obra barato, baraca sem luz comida a pressa
Inda más enganado cu sê irmon branco
Explorado
Enganado
Explorado
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
@carimoambasse
Alto Cutelo cimbron djá cá tem
Djá sêca
Raiz sticado djobi agua c'atacha
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Djá sêca
Agu sta fundo e omi ca trâ
Djá sêca
Mudjer um simana sê lumi cá sendi
Na casa
Sê fidju na strada, sô um tá trabadja
Pâ dôzi mil reis
Marido djâ dura qui bai pa Lisboa
Contratado
Contratado
Contratado
Pá bai pá Lisboa ê bendi sê terra
Mêtadi di preço
Ali tá trabadja na tchuba na bento
Na frio
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Na CUF, na Lisnave e na Jota Pimenta
Mão de obra barato pá mâs qui trabadja servente
Mão de obra barato, baraca sem luz comida a pressa
Inda más enganado cu sê irmon branco
Explorado
Enganado
Explorado
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Má um dia qui'mvrá pá terra
Monti gordo i malagueta
Nhôs tem qui dán agu
Cú força na braço
Consciência di mim
Ê mi qui trabadja
Terra e poder ê pá mim (la la la)
Cú cimbron na Cutelo (la la la)
Minino na tchón (la la la)
E barco na porto (la la la)
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
Nôs terra
@jubileu2011
I found this translation: In Alto Cutelo there are no more berries (It's a drought).
The roots dried out, can't reach the water (It's a drought).
The water runs deep, out of man's reach (It's a drought).
The woman waits by the fire for over a week (in her house)
Her children on the road, only one works (for twelve siblings).
Her husband's gone to Lisbon for a long, long time (under contract)
Gone to Lisbon, sold his land (at half the price)
He has to work in rain and wind (out in the cold)
Shipyards, factories, scaffolds
Cheap labor, no matter how hard you work (Servant).
Cheap labor, shack without light (Prison food).
Cheated by his white brother (Exploited, cheated)
One day, I'll go back home,
Monte Gordo and Malagueta.
We'll get to the water
The strength of our arms, My conscience
I am the one who works, land and power are mine.
Berries up on the hill
Children running
A boat in the harbor
@magnidarochalima3939
O melhor de todos os tempos❤
@puetizakretxeu975
Oh Kabu Verdi di nos! Seku pur natureza!
@joanapereira4127
Nós saudoso Ildo Lobo, tudo se músicas nta tchora hrs ki nta obi, na tudo se trabajo ta fazem recorda passado 😢💔
@nelsongomes45
Inda explorado pa nós irmãos brancos
@Chellyfrangranciaacessor-jp7eh
🎉🎉🎉🎉Grande Clássico
@jailsonfortes5530
Um das lendas d Cabo Verde ❤️
@armindosicola5204
Melodia para a alma.
@JG-ke7gj
What a great song.
@mariaalmeida189
Lindo! ❤
@fbans6255
Imortal Ildo !!! Deus te guia