Banho de Manjericão
Clara Nunes
Basil Bath
I'm gonna take a basil bath
Gonna shake off the dust from my body with my hand
And I'm heading back to my congado
To ask the saint
To pray away the bad vibes
And cut the evil eye
And I'm gonna knock on wood three times with my fingers crossed
Gonna hang a lucky charm on the chain around my neck
At home, a sprig of rue to ward off
A glass of water by the door
A lit candle, and a pepper plant by the gate
It's with Grandma Maria who has the charm for protection
It's with Father Benedito who blesses the troubled with a touch
And Father Antônio heals the heartache
And there's the prayer of Saint Cyprian
And there are the herbs that open the paths for the faithful.