Saudades Mil

A Thousand Memories

Diadema, 2nd of December, '99
Missing you, my friend Dexter, how's it going?
I hope you're good and that this finds you in pure spiritual peace, and that you're holding strong
Look, things aren't going well here, every day it gets tougher
With Laisla, everything's fine, she's still a kid and doesn't get life's surprises
You know, my friend

- Yeah, I'm gonna reply to this letter now:
January, year 2000, chessboard 509-E
Missing you a thousand!
Hey, hey friend, how are you?
I missed you, so I decided to write
I hope this letter finds you well, healthy, in harmony and all that
I'm here, holding on to faith and peace, hustling and more
It's been almost two years since we last saw each other, every now and then I think of you
I remember the parties we threw, leaving at ten at night and only coming back the next day
What a blast, just joy
Remember? We went anywhere
I was always well-regarded, you too
Remember Simone and Neném?
Those girls were trouble, a whole lot of fun, partying all night long
I spent Christmas '97 at your place, a lot of drama, several friends around
Your sister looked beautiful that day, Adriana, what a babe, oh my God!
It was awesome, a wild Christmas
I'd give anything to relive it all!
But then I forgot, lost everything, shot in the dark, friend, and lost it all
Even that girl who said she loved me, ah, she forgot me after I came here
It sucks, life is like that, not everything goes the way we want
Unfortunately, there's no going back, gotta move forward, that's how it is
Jorge sang that Charles would come back, and like Charles, I can believe too
With this day, I can't stop dreaming, I want to see the whole hill happy and all

Old buddy, thanks for the letter
What a rare, deep longing
"I want to live"
With my head held high, soon I'll step out into life
Any day now...
"I'll see you"

I got the letter you sent
I was thrown off, it shook me
I can't believe they killed your husband, Amarildo was my friend
He always had my back in various situations, hard to understand life's surprises
Yesterday everything was fine with the whole family
Today one less, it feels like a joke
My respected ally in crime
Jealousy is a bitch, I know this story
I pray to God that you all are okay
And that my buddy is at peace, Hallelujah, Amen!
Hey friend, I'm not doing well today
My spiritual side's been affected
I saw a crazy guy looking at me differently
With malice in his eyes, you know?
The craziness took over me
I'm alert, quick, anyway
I want to know why that look
I'm on to him, I’ll confront
Whatever he wants from me, I want double
I'm on edge, I'm ready
Here in this hellhole, that's how it is
The devil tempts you, plans your end
May God protect me, I hope it's nothing
But if it is, I'll take on anything
Hey friend, this place is hell
"- Hey Dexter, another one fell in the inner yard"
Living in peace is what I want, but not that cold peace of a graveyard
A lamp for my feet is the word of God
Lord, protect this child of yours
Jorge sang that Charles would come back
And like Charles, I can believe too
With this day, I can't stop dreaming
I will be a winner, you can bet on it

AND WITH CIGARETTE AFTER CIGARETTE, MEMORIES MAKE MY EYES BLUR
FREEDOM, DIGNITY ARE EARNED THROUGH STRUGGLE
AND LONGING INVADES AT THE SPEED OF TIME PASSING
AND YOU CAN BET ONE DAY I'LL BE WITH YOU!

Old buddy, thanks for the letter
What a rare, deep longing
"I want to live"
With my head held high, soon I'll step out into life
Any day now...
"I'll see you"

Hey friend, I miss the neighborhood
In the next letter, tell me about the crew
How's Romildo and Marquinhos?
Robson, Ediberto, and Zinho?
Ask them to write me
Tell them I called so they don't forget
That care is necessary
These days the world is full of fools
They don't think twice to pull the trigger
And then it's too late, another brother's gone
It's too risky out here
The drugs are high, peace is down
Addicts on the corners cause fear
In our time, it wasn't like this
Hey friend, it's a sad movie to watch
Violence is the trademark, what to do?
On the stairs, you hear several shots
And soon after, a mother crying for her child
Roberto, may God have him, man
Luciano told me the story
He's around here too
He said that in the Vila, it's like this now
Who knows when I get out
Everything will be much better out there
Maybe the brothers will one day understand
That crime and drugs are just diseases
It's just jail, funerals, destruction
Family sadness, just disappointment
It's necessary to correct the attitude
Love, justice is the cure
Well, I think I've said enough
In the next one, I'll write more
My friend, greetings to everyone
Stay in faith, I'm praying for all
Make sure you don't take too long to reply
I miss you!