Era Rei Eu Sou Escravo
Milton Nascimento
I Was King, I Am a Slave
I was king and I am a slave
I was free and I am commanded!
Where my firm land, Africa of my loves.
Where my white house, my wife and my children.
They brought me far away, tied to the wood, beat me with a whip, cursed me, hurt me.
I was king and I am a slave, I was free and I am commanded.
But no matter how much they sail me, taking me across the seas, but no matter how much they mistreat me, flesh open by the knife,
The memory comes and saves, the memory comes and keeps,
Keeps the smell of my land, the music of my people, the certainty today and always that no one will take us away. wherever the port may be,
No matter how much I suffer and scream,
I will be commanded I will be free, I will be a slave I will be king.