Asa Branca [English translation]

When I saw that burning land

Just like a Saint John's bonfire1

I asked heaven's Lord, oh

''Why such suffering?''

I asked heaven's Lord, oh

''Why such suffering?''

It's hot as a furnace

Not a single plant stands still

I've lost my cattle to the drought

My best horse has died from thirst

I've lost my cattle to the drought

My best horse has died from thirst

Even the Asa branca 2

Has left the sertão 3

Thus I say, goodbye Rosinha

Keep my heart together with you

Thus I say, goodbye Rosinha

Keep my heart together with you

Today, far away

In a sad solitude

I hope for the rain to come

So that I can go back to my sertão

I hope the rain to come

So that I can go back to my sertão

When the planting is as green as your eyes

I promise you, don't cry, ok?

That I shall come back, darling

I promise you, don't cry, ok?

That I shall come back, darling

1. Saint John's day is a folk festival in which there's a tradition of lighting up a bonfire2. Very common bird in the region3. Sertão is a semi-desertic area in Northeast Brazil. As its economy is not much developed and natives depend on the cruel weather to grow their own food, they often migrate to places with better life conditions