Assustado
Naçăo Zumbi Lyrics

The lyrics of Nação Zumbi's song "Assustado" depict a celebration in the forest, where the drums don't stop and the master leads the dancing circle. The singer warns against interfering with the festivities and the hunt, where the hunters are ruthless and the prey cannot be seen. The repetitions of "Eu vi você, você não me viu" (I saw you, you didn't see me) suggest a sense of invisibility, of being able to witness without being noticed. The lyrics then shift to a fight to defend the forest, where the singer asks for the protection of the "cabloco" and questions the whereabouts of the listener. The hunt continues, with slashing and destruction, and the singer again emphasizes the undetected presence, repeating "E ninguém me vê" (And nobody sees me). The last two lines proclaim the resilience and fearlessness of a "maloqueiro", someone who is not easily intimidated.

The lyrics of "Assustado" can be interpreted as a criticism of the destruction of nature and the clash between modernity and traditional cultures. The reference to the "cabloco", a spirit or guardian of the forest in Afro-Brazilian religions, highlights the importance of protecting the environment and the indigenous culture against exploitation and assimilation. The repetition of the phrase "Eu vi você, você não me viu" also suggests a metaphorical invisibility of the marginalized and the subaltern, those who are not recognized or valued by the dominant culture.