Retumbar do Meu Tambor

The Beat of My Drum

Retumbar do Meu Tambor

Comes from Angola and GuineaVem de Angola e da Guiné
From Congo and DahomeyDo Congo e do Daomé
The beat of my drumO retumbar do meu tambor
Comes from the spirits of MaliVem das mandingas do Mali
From the drums of AshantiDos tambores de Ashanti
My explosive songMeu canto arrebentador

I’m cumbia, I’m mambo, I’m lunduSou cumbia, sou mambo, sou lundu
Guaguancó, carimbó, maracatuGuaguancó, carimbó, maracatu
I’m everything Africa sent and I’ll goSou tudo que a África mandou e vou
With my inquices and orixásCom meus inquices e orixás
Walking the path of peaceTrilhando o caminho da paz
Beating my drumRetumbando meu tambor

In Haiti, I’m the priest of my vodouNo Haiti, sou ogã do meu vodum
Dambalá in Salvador at the Olodum rhythmDambalá em Salvador na batucada de olodum
In New Orleans, the black with blue eyesEm New Orleans preto dos olhos azuis
Crying the guitar a bluesChorando a guitarra um blues
That the Mississippi taught meQue o Mississippi me ensinou
Strong and steady in any tideFirme e forte em qualquer maré
Resistance and I have the energy of the beat of my drumResistência e tenho axé do retumbar do meu tambor

Beat drum, beatRetumba tambor retumba
Macumba and candombléMacumba e candomblé
Beat jongo and calango in the ijexá of afoxéRetumba jongo e calango no ijexá do afoxé

Beat drum, beatRetumba tambor retumba
Macumba and candombléMacumba e candomblé
Beat jongo and calango in the ijexá of afoxéRetumba jongo e calango no ijexá do afoxé