Sensemayá (O Canto Para Matar Una Culebra)

The snake has glass eyes,
The snake comes and coils around a stick
With its glass eyes on a stick
With its glass eyes.

The snake walks without legs,
The snake hides in the grass
Walking it hides in the grass
Walking without legs.

Mayombé bombé, mayombé
Mayombé bombé, mayombé,
Mayombé bombé, mayombé.

You hit it with the axe and it dies
Hit it now!
Don't hit it with your foot, it bites you
Don't hit it with your foot, it goes away.

Sensemayá the snake, sensemayá,
Sensemayá with its eyes, sensemayá,
Sensemayá with its tongue, sensemayá,
Sensemayá with its mouth, sensemayá.

The dead snake cannot eat,
The dead snake cannot whistle,
It cannot walk, it cannot run.
The dead snake cannot see,
The dead snake cannot drink.
It cannot breathe, it cannot bite.

Mayombé bombé, mayombé
Sensemayá the snake.
Mayombé bombé, mayombé,
Sensemayá doesn't move.
Mayombé bombé, mayombé,
Sensemayá the snake.
Mayombé bombé, mayombé
Sensemayá, it died.