Loved that time as if it was the last time
Kissed his wife as if she was the last one
And each of his sons like each was his only son
And crossed the street with his timid pace
Climbed the construction like he was a machine
Built on the ground four solid walls
Brick by brick in a magical design
His eyes full of cement and tears
Sat down to rest like it was a saturday
Ate beans and rice1like he was a prince
Drank and sobbed like he was a castaway
Danced and giggled like he was listening to music
And stumbled on the sky like he was a drunk
And floated on the air like he was a bird
And fell on the ground like a flacid bundle
Agonized in the middle of the public crosswalk
Died in the wrong way lane2 holding up the traffic
Loved that time like he was the last one
Kissed his wife like she was the only one
And each of his sons like each was the prodigal son
And crossed the street with his drunk pace
Climbed the construction like it was solid
Built on the ground four magical walls
Brick by brick in a logical design
His eyes full of cement and traffic
Sat down to rest like he was a prince
Ate beans and rice like it was the best
Drank and sobbed like he was a machine
Danced and giggled like he was the next
And stumbled on the ground like he was listening to music
And floated on the the air like it was saturday
And fell on the ground like a timid bundle
Agonized in the middle of the castaway crosswalk
Died in the wrong way lane holding up the audience3
Loved that time like he was a machine
Kissed his wife like it was logical
Built on the ground four flacid walls
Sat down to rest like he was a bird
And floated on the air like he was a prince
And fell on the ground like a drunk bundle
Died in the wrong way lane holding up the saturday
For this bread to eat, for this ground to sleep on
The certificate to be born and the permission to smile
God may pay you back
For letting me breathe, for letting me exist
God may pay you back
For the free cachaça4 that we have to swallow
For the smoke and the disgrace that we have to cof
For the scaffolds we have to fall from
God may pay you back
For the carpideira woman5 to worship us and spit on us
And for the screwworm flies kissing and covering us
And for the ultimate peace that will at last redeem us
God may pay you back
1. a popular dish in Brazil, especially between the poorer people2. wasn't sure on how to translate that, since english aparently doesn't have a direct translation for "contramão", which means driving on the wrong side of the road, on the opposite direction3. in portuguese "público" means "public" as well as "audience/crowd"4. it is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil, made from sugarcane juice5. a woman that is paid to cry at funerals