| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Capineiro de ioiô capineiro de iaia Capineiro de ioiô capineiro de iaia Não corte capim daí Capineiro Só corte quando eu mandar Capineiro Não mexa com marimbondo Capineiro No tronco do mangangá Capineiro Na fazenda do Sertão A tristeza era demais Na fazenda do Sertão A tristeza era demais Era a cana na moenda Pra faser garapa* Era milho no pilão Pra fazer fubá Eu andava sete léguas Sem olhar pra trás Cada passo que eu dava Era um capataz Capineiro que corta cana No meio do canavial Capineiro que corta cana No meio do canavial | Capineer from yo-yo, capineiro from iaia Capineer from yo-yo, capineiro from iaia Don’t cut grass from there Capineiro Only cut when I send Capineiro Don’t mess with wasp Capineiro In the trunk of the mangangá Capineiro At the backwater farm The sadness was too much At the backwater farm The sadness was too much It was the cane in the mill To faser garapa It was corn in the pestle To make cornmeal I walked seven leagues Without looking back Every step I took Was a foreman Capineer who cuts cane In the middle of the cane field Capineer who cuts cane In the middle of the cane field |
Capineiro – Grass cutter (or person who cuts grass)
Garapa – Sugar cane juice. Often made with lime and sugar or honey.
Mangangá – Legendary land of the mangangá queen. The legend explains that the people are waiting for the lost queen of mangangá to start a new era. This queen looks for her land and her people, but can’t.