Gilberto Gil
Afoxé é lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Portuguese
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1982
- Genre
- Samba
- Length
- 4:03
Ê-ô, ê-ô
Eh-eh, eh-eh
Ê-ô, ê-ô
Eh-eh, eh-eh
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for the yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for the yah-yah
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for the yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for the yah-yah
O afoxé é da gente
The afoxé belongs to us
Foi de quem quis, é de quem quiser
It was for those who wanted, it's for whoever wants
Sair do pé do caboclo
To step away from the native's feet
Até a Praça da Sé
All the way to Praça da Sé
O afoxé é semente
The afoxé is a seed
Plantou quem quis, planta quem quiser
Whoever wanted planted it, whoever wants can plant
Tem que botar fé no bloco
You have to believe in the block
Tem que gostar de andar a pé
You have to love walking on foot
Tem que aguentar sol a pino
You have to endure the blazing sun
Tem que passar no terreiro
You have to pass through the yard
E carregar o menino, oh
And carry the child, oh
Tem que tomar aguaceiro
You have to brave the downpour
Tem que saber cada hino
You have to know every hymn
E cantar o tempo inteiro, oh
And sing the whole time, oh
O afoxé, seu caminho
The afoxé, its path
Sempre se fez, sempre se fará
Always made, always will be
Por onde estiver o povo
Wherever the people are
Esperando pra dançar
Waiting to dance
O afoxé vai seguindo
The afoxé keeps going
Sempre seguiu, sempre seguirá
Always has, always will
Com a devoção do negro
With the devotion of the black
E a bênção de Oxalá
And the blessing of Oxalá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for ioiô
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for iaiá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for the yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for the yay-yay
O afoxé é da gente
The afoxé is ours
Foi de quem quis, é de quem quiser
It was for those who wanted, it's for whoever wants
Sair do pé do caboclo
Get out from the caboclo's feet
Até a Praça da Sé
All the way to Praça da Sé
O afoxé é semente
The afoxé is a seed
Plantou quem quis, planta quem quiser
Planted by those who wanted, plants by whoever wishes
Tem que botar fé no bloco
You gotta believe in the block
Tem que gostar de andar a pé
You gotta love to walk on foot
Tem que aguentar sol a pino
You have to withstand the blazing sun
Tem que passar no terreiro
You have to pass through the yard
E carregar o menino, oh
And carry the child, oh
Tem que tomar aguaceiro
You have to brave the downpour
Tem que saber cada hino
You have to know every anthem
E cantar o tempo inteiro, oh
And sing the whole time, oh
O afoxé, seu caminho
The afoxé, its path
Sempre se fez, sempre se fará
Always has been, always will be
Por onde estiver o povo
Wherever the people are
Esperando pra dançar
Waiting to dance
O afoxé vai seguindo
The afoxé keeps going
Sempre seguiu, sempre seguirá
Always has, always will
Com a devoção do negro
With the devotion of the Black
E a bênção de Oxalá
And the blessing of Oxalá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for ioiô
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for iaiá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for ioiô
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for iaiá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for ioiô
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for iaiá
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for yah-yah
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for yah-yah
É bom pra ioiô
It's good for yo-yo
É bom pra iaiá
It's good for yah-yah
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Key vocabulary
- ê-ô
- interjection
- bom
- goodA1
- ioiô
- yo-yo
- iaiá
- madam
- gente
- peopleA2
- quis
- wanted
- quiser
- want
- pé
- footA2
- caboclo
- mestizo
- praça
- squareA1
Test yourself
How much of Afoxé é did you catch?
A quick quiz on the key words from this song.
About this song
Gilberto Gil was a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter associated with Tropicália and other innovative trends in Brazilian music. He is known for expanding Brazilian musical language through late-1960s and 1970s recordings and for combining an active political career, including serving as Brazil’s minister of culture, with ongoing work as a recording artist.