A morte saiu à rua
Zeca Sempre Lyrics


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A morte saiu à rua num dia assim
Naquele lugar sem nome pra qualquer fim
Uma gota rubra sobre a calçada cai
E um rio de sangue dum peito aberto sai

O vento que dá nas canas do canavial
E a foice duma ceifeira de Portugal
E o som da bigorna como um clarim do céu
Vão dizendo em toda a parte o pintor morreu

Teu sangue, Pintor, reclama outra morte igual
Só olho por olho e dente por dente vale
À lei assassina à morte que te matou
Teu corpo pertence à terra que te abraçou

Aqui te afirmamos dente por dente assim
Que um dia rirá melhor quem rirá por fim
Na curva da estrada há covas feitas no chão
E em todas florirão rosas duma nação

A morte saiu à rua num dia assim
Naquele lugar sem nome pra qualquer fim
Uma gota rubra sobre a calçada cai
E um rio de sangue dum peito aberto sai

O vento que dá nas canas do canavial
E a foice duma ceifeira de Portugal
E o som da bigorna como um clarim do céu
Vão dizendo em toda a parte o pintor morreu

O pintor morreu




O pintor morreu
O pintor morreu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Zeca Sempre's "A Morte Saiu à Rua" tell a story of a tragic and senseless death that has occurred in an unnamed place. The opening line of the song sets the scene for the somber tone to come, as "death" makes an appearance on an ordinary day. As the scene unfolds, a drop of blood falls on the pavement and a river of blood flows from an open chest. The image is vivid and haunting, and it becomes clear that a painter (referred to as "Pintor" in the song) has been violently killed.


The lyrics then take on a more political tone, with references to traditional Portuguese symbols such as the sound of a blacksmith's anvil ("a bigorna") and a "ceifeira" (a woman who harvests corn). These symbols are used to lament the injustice of the painter's death and to call for retribution: "Teu sangue, Pintor, reclama outra morte igual" ("Your blood, Painter, demands another death like it"). The lyrics emphasize the idea of "an eye for an eye" and suggest that the killer should face the same fate as the painter. The final verse of the song asserts that justice will ultimately prevail, and that the nation will remember the painter and honor his legacy.


Overall, "A Morte Saiu à Rua" is a powerful and poignant song that addresses issues of violence, justice, and memory. The lyrics use vivid imagery and traditional Portuguese symbols to convey a sense of grief and anger, and to call for a more just society.


Line by Line Meaning

A morte saiu à rua num dia assim
Death took to the streets on a day like this


Naquele lugar sem nome pra qualquer fim
In that place with no name or purpose


Uma gota rubra sobre a calçada cai
A red drop falls on the sidewalk


E um rio de sangue dum peito aberto sai
And a river of blood flows from an opened chest


O vento que dá nas canas do canavial
The wind blowing through the sugarcane


E a foice duma ceifeira de Portugal
And the sickle of a Portuguese reaper


E o som da bigorna como um clarim do céu
And the sound of the anvil like a heavenly trumpet


Vão dizendo em toda a parte o pintor morreu
Are saying everywhere the painter has died


Teu sangue, Pintor, reclama outra morte igual
Your blood, Painter, demands another equal death


Só olho por olho e dente por dente vale
Only an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth counts


À lei assassina à morte que te matou
To the murderous law that killed you


Teu corpo pertence à terra que te abraçou
Your body belongs to the earth that embraced you


Aqui te afirmamos dente por dente assim
Here we affirm an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth


Que um dia rirá melhor quem rirá por fim
That one day he who laughs last will laugh best


Na curva da estrada há covas feitas no chão
At the turn of the road, there are graves dug in the ground


E em todas florirão rosas duma nação
And in all of them, roses of a nation will bloom


O pintor morreu
The painter died


O pintor morreu
The painter died


O pintor morreu
The painter died




Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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