Mãe Preta [English translation]

Wrinkled skin, crisp white hair

An overcoat of lace falling to the hips

Rocking the cradle of her master's son

That her lady had had a few time before.

This way did black nanny do

Brought up every white child with cheerfulness

Later, in the slave quarters, she held her blackie one

And black nanny wiped off one more tear

Black nanny, black nanny

While the cane whipped her loved one

Black nanny rocked her master's white son