Eu Sóu Cruel
Jorge Ben Lyrics

The lyrics of Jorge Ben's song "Eu Sóu Cruel" explore a complex and contradictory relationship dynamic between the singer and a woman. The first paragraph reveals that the woman has given the singer her cellphone number and instructed him to call her at any time. It is emphasized that she is eager and demanding, wanting to be taken out to eat. The phrase "essa nega é gulosa" can be roughly translated as "this woman is insatiable," suggesting her strong desire and appetite.

In the second paragraph, the repetition of "Ela me deu" (She gave me) emphasizes the woman's willingness to give herself to the singer, indicating a certain level of vulnerability and trust. However, the phrase "Ela não sabe que eu sou cruel" (She doesn't know that I am cruel) introduces a contrasting element. This suggests that the singer has a darker side or a capacity for cruelty that is hidden from the woman.

The third paragraph delves deeper into the singer's character, presenting a list of actions that they perform in the relationship. There are expressions of affection and care, such as kissing, hugging, and loving, as well as nurturing and providing status and satisfaction. However, there is a stark shift in tone in the subsequent lines. The singer reveals that if the woman goes against their expectations or provokes them, they respond with physical aggression, such as pulling hair, pinching, giving ear pulls, poking, stepping on the foot, and intentionally leaving the woman hungry and not calling her.

The repetition of "Ela me deu" in the fourth paragraph reiterates the woman's initial action of giving her phone number and the singer being aware of the woman's desire to go out. This reinforces the intensity of her desire and the singer's acknowledgment of it. The phrase "Ela não sabe" (She doesn't know) is again followed by "que eu sou cruel" (that I am cruel). This repetition highlights the essential theme of the song. The last line of the fourth paragraph serves as a transition to the chorus and sets up the final part of the song.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Eu sou cruel" (I am cruel) multiple times, emphasizing the singer's self-awareness and acceptance of their cruelty. The subsequent lines "Alô, alô, é, eu sou cruel" (Hello, hello, yes, I am cruel) and "Alô amor, eu sou cruel" (Hello, love, I am cruel) serve as a direct address to the woman or an imaginary conversation partner, reinforcing the singer's acknowledgement and proclamation of their cruel nature. The conclusive line of the song, "Pego no colo, faço carinho, mas sou cruel" (I pick up, I caress, but I am cruel), encapsulates the conflicting duality of the singer's behavior, alternating between tenderness and cruelty.