Os Tambores De Minas

The Drums of Minas

Os Tambores De Minas

It was one, it was two, it was a hundredEra um, era dois, era cem
Thousand drums and voices from beyondMil tambores e as vozes do além
Old hill, slave quarters, full houseMorro velho, senzala, casa cheia
Repinica, rebound, swirlRepinica, rebate, revolteia
And thunder in the sky is a lanternE trovão no céu é candeia
It was bass drum, it was bass and it was snareEra bumbo, era surdo e era caixa
About-face and more about-faceMeia-volta e mais volta e meia
Pocotó, iron train and a lightPocotó, trem de ferro e uma luz
Procession, ground of flowers and JesusProcissão, chão de flores e Jesus
Beat hard until the hand bleedsBate forte até sangrar a mão
And beating for those who have goneE batendo pelos que se foram
Or beating for those who have returnedOu batendo pelos que voltaram
The drums of Minas will soundOs tambores de Minas soarão
Their drums never fell silentSeus tambores nunca se calaram
It was leather beating and it was tinEra couro batendo e era lata
It was a bell with the exact noteEra um sino com a nota exata
Foot on the ground and the mulatto's chairsPé no chão e as cadeiras da mulata
And the future in the hands of the boyE o futuro nas mãos do menino
Drumming for faith and destinyBatucando por fé e destino
Beating clothes in the stream the washerwomanBate roupa em riacho a lavadeira
Rhythming in any wayRitmando de qualquer maneira
And finally the drum of musculatureE por fim o tambor da musculatura
The ancestral thump-thump of the heartO tum-tum ancestral do coração
When the fever comes, no one holds backQuando chega a febre ninguém segura
Beat hard until the hand bleedsBate forte até sangrar a mão
The drums of Minas will soundOs tambores de Minas soarão
Their drums never fell silentSeus tambores nunca se calaram
The drums of Minas will soundOs tambores de Minas soarão
Their drums never fell silentSeus tambores nunca se calaram
Their drums...Seus tambores...