Lyrics and translation Quinteto Violado - Rio Capibaribe

Rio Capibaribe

Rolam tambores de maracatus
Qual onda de protesto afogados
Indo em passeatas à cidade
Pelas ruas onde o povo feito menino
Corre sem destino

O rio Capibaribe feito cobra grande
Engoliu as terras, engoliu as casas
Engoliu as cercas
E engordou seu corpo
Engolindo as noites, engolindo os dias
O rio Capibaribe

O rio invade as casas assustadas
Assusta a fábrica e o operário
Navega rumo, rumo ao calvário
Afoga os dias no calendário
Naufraga os homens no salário
Vai cheio entre mãos vazias
O rio Capibaribe

Rolam tambores de maracatus
Qual onda de protesto afogados
Indo em passeatas à cidade
Pelas ruas onde o povo feito menino
Corre sem destino

Capibaribe River

Maracatu drums roll, my love,
Like a wave of drowned protests,
Going in parades to the city,
Through the streets where the people, like children,
Run without destination.

The Capibaribe River, like a great serpent, my dear,
Swallowed the lands, swallowed the houses,
Swallowed the fences,
And fattened its body,
Swallowing the nights, swallowing the days,
The Capibaribe River.

The river invades the frightened houses, sweetheart,
Frightens the factory and the worker,
Sails towards, towards Calvary,
Drowns the days on the calendar,
Shipwrecks men in their wages,
Goes full between empty hands,
The Capibaribe River.

Maracatu drums roll, my love,
Like a wave of drowned protests,
Going in parades to the city,
Through the streets where the people, like children,
Run without destination.