One of the most expressive works of musical theater dedicated to children, Os Saltimbancos narrates the adventures of four animals that, feeling exploited by their owners, decide to run away to the city and try their luck as musicians, viewed as a political allegory, in which the Chicken would represent the working class; the Donkey, the country workers; the Dog, the military, and the Cat, the artists. The Baron, the enemy of the animals, would be the personification of the elite, or the "holders of the means of production".
Bicharia
Os Saltimbancos Lyrics
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Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
O animal é tão bacana
Mas também não é nenhum banana.
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
Quando a porca torce o rabo
Pode ser o diabo
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
Era uma vez
(E é ainda)
certo país
(E é ainda)
Onde os animais
Eram tratados como bestas
(São ainda, são ainda)
Tinha um barão
(Tem ainda)
Espertalhão
(Tem ainda)
Nunca trabalhava
E então achava a vida linda
(E acha ainda, e acha ainda)
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
O animal é paciente
Mas também não é nenhum demente.
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
Quando o homem exagera
Bicho vira fera
E ora vejam só.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
Puxa, jumento
(Só puxava)
Choca galinha
(Só chocava)
Rápido, cachorro
Guarda a casa, corre e volta
(Só corria, só voltava).
Mas chega um dia
(Chega um dia)
Que o bicho chia
(Bicho chia)
Bota pra quebrar
E eu quero ver quem paga o pato
Pois vai ser um saco de gatos
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
O animal é tão bacana
Mas também não é nenhum banana.
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
Quando a porca torce o rabo
Pode ser o diabo
E ora vejam só.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
"Bicharia" is a song from the Brazilian musical "Os Saltimbancos" that tells the story of a group of animals who feel mistreated and disrespected by humans. The song starts with the sounds of different animals, such as dogs, cats, and roosters, making their typical noises. The lyrics then point out that even though animals are amazing creatures, they are far from being powerless or insignificant. This anthem-like song empowers animals to stand up for themselves and not tolerate mistreatment anymore.
The second part of the song narrates a specific situation where the animals in a certain country are treated poorly, and a wealthy baron takes advantage of their labor without giving them proper recognition or compensation. However, the animals eventually rebel and decide to fight back against their oppressor. The song concludes by reiterating that animals deserve respect and that any mistreatment towards them will not go unpunished. The overall message of the song is that even though animals may not have the same cognitive capacities as humans, they still have dignity and worth that should be valued and protected.
Line by Line Meaning
Au, au, au. Hi-ho hi-ho.
A dog's bark followed by a chant of encouragement and enthusiasm.
Miau, miau, miau. Cocorocó.
A cat's meow followed by the sound of a rooster crowing.
O animal é tão bacana
Animals are great creatures.
Mas também não é nenhum banana.
But they are not pushovers either.
Quando a porca torce o rabo
When the pig's tail is twisted,
Pode ser o diabo
It can be the devil himself
E ora vejam só.
And now you see.
Era uma vez
Once upon a time,
(E é ainda)
(And it's still)
certo país
there was a certain country,
(E é ainda)
(And it's still)
Onde os animais
Where the animals
Eram tratados como bestas
Were treated like beasts
(São ainda, são ainda)
(They still are, they still are)
Tinha um barão
There was a Baron
(Tem ainda)
(There still is)
Espertalhão
A shrewd man
(Tem ainda)
(There still is)
Nunca trabalhava
Who never worked
E então achava a vida linda
And then thought life was beautiful
(E acha ainda, e acha ainda)
(And still thinks so, still thinks so)
O animal é paciente
Animals are patient
Mas também não é nenhum demente.
But they are not foolish either.
Quando o homem exagera
When humans go too far
Bicho vira fera
Animals become beasts
E ora vejam só.
And now you see.
Puxa, jumento
Pull, donkey
(Só puxava)
(He only pulled)
Choca galinha
Hatch, chicken
(Só chocava)
(She only hatched eggs)
Rápido, cachorro
Fast, dog
Guarda a casa, corre e volta
Guard the house, run and come back
(Só corria, só voltava).
(He only ran, only came back).
Mas chega um dia
But one day
(Chega um dia)
(It comes a day)
Que o bicho chia
When the animal 'squeaks'
(Bicho chia)
(The animal 'squeaks')
Bota pra quebrar
All hell breaks loose
E eu quero ver quem paga o pato
And I want to see who will pay the price
Pois vai ser um saco de gatos
Because it's going to be a whole mess.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
A dog's bark followed by the sound of a rooster crowing.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
A dog's bark followed by the sound of a rooster crowing.
Au, au, au. Cocorocó.
A dog's bark followed by the sound of a rooster crowing.
Writer(s): Luis Enriquez Bacalov, Sergio Bardotti, Francisco Buarque de Hollanda Copyright: Fonit Cetra Music Publishing S.r.l.
Contributed by Emily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.