Boiada Cuiabana

That our duetted voice with the sound of this divine instrument
Married with the melody of our desire and our feeling
Echo within each heart carrying the taste of true sweet and pure poetry
Of a simple sound, but one that moves and captivates
A sound that was born from the interior, came from the countryside, from the farm
Came to speak and to defend, but only what is ours
We have nothing against the trends from abroad

But we don't trade the sound of our country guitar for a rock and roll guitar sound
I prefer a thousand times our stories, our conversations, our hunter's songs
Our simple and beautiful way that only we have to talk about love
What could be better than that, guitar, viola?

A pure shot of cachaça, a corn husk cigarette, and two good singers
Of course, all of this with God's protection
Without stepping on anyone, we fight to defend
And as long as it depends on us, culture will never die

I'll tell you about my life from when I was young
About a trip I took to the backlands of Mato Grosso
I went to get a cattle drive, it was in August

My boss was shipped off to the Sorocabana line
The foreman of the convoy was Juca Flor da Fama
I was hired to bring a Cuiabana cattle drive

In the bay horse was João Negrão, in the dapple gray Severino
Zé Garcia on the chestnut and on the pinto was Catarino
The godmother and the packhorse were pulled by a boy

I left Lambari on my roan beast
Only after thirty days did I arrive in Aquidauana
There I fell in love with a wicked Bahian woman

Upon arriving in Campo Grande, I went to a casino
A beautiful Paraguayan woman was playing at the table
I put my hand in my pocket, money was abundant

She sent word for me to come closer
I sent word for her to keep drinking, I would pay
I played nine rounds, my money was running out

The moon was hiding, the morning was breaking
That charming, dark-skinned brunette
Sobbing, she said
Boy, take me with you, I will give you all my soul,
All my love, all my affection, all my life
The cowboys at the ranch were ready to depart
In a fragrant rosebush, the birds were singing
My roan beast seemed to guess
That I wouldn't leave alone, my love was with me

I left Campo Grande with the Cuiabana cattle drive
My love came on the back of my roan beast
Today I have someone who brings me joy, in my old shack