Os Meninos da Mangueira

A boy from Mangueira
Got a pandeiro and a cuíca for Christmas
Given by Santa Claus, a light-skinned mulatto
Cousin of Mrs. Zica

And the boy from Mangueira
Ran to organize a beautiful drumming group
Carnival is coming and people are drumming
They are the boys from Mangueira

Carlos Cachaça, the troubadour
Master Cartola, the scholar
Mr. Delegado, a dancer
Does things he learned from Marcelino

And the old guard
Joins the boys on the catwalk
Make way for her
Mangueira looking beautiful

Little Baker, where's Xangô
The rich black man, calls Mr. Sinhô
And Mrs. Nelma, marvelous
Is the first lady of the green and pink

And where does the past
The future and the present come together
Where samba is permanent
In Mangueira, my people