14 de Maio
Lazzo Matumbi
May 14th
On May 14th, I went out there
Had no job, no home, nowhere to go
Carrying the slave quarters in my soul, I climbed the favela
Thinking one day to come down, but I never did
I wandered dizzy in all the zones of great agony
One day hungry, the next with nothing to eat
No name, no identity, no photograph
The world looked at me, but no one wanted to see me
On May 14th, no one paid attention to me
I had to be good at soccer to survive
No lessons, no place in school
They thought they could make me lose
But my soul resists, my body is of struggle
I know what is good, and what is good should also be mine
The most certain thing must be the most just thing
I am what I am, for now I know who I am
Did you understand the message?
Pay attention to Ilê Aiyê
Pay attention to Ilê Aiyê
Now that you see me
Notice how beautiful it is
Hey, our beautiful people
Notice that it's the greatest pleasure
Good for me, good for you
I'm wide awake
Look, sir, be smart
I'm not a kid
