Terra Roxa

A dandy in a luxury car
Stopped in front of a restaurant
Please change a thousand cruzeiros
Hastily he said to the merchant
Excuse me, I don't have change
But there's an important customer here
The dandy went from table to table
And passed by one of them
Seeing a black man having lunch
In a strange outfit, in a wandering way
Without saying that the thousand cruzeiros
Were money for those travelers

The merchant told the dandy
I've seen this black man, he has change
The dandy smiled with disdain
Can't you see he's a poor soul
With his clothes all wrinkled
And a very shy manner
If this guy is someone in life
Then I'll be the state president
No rabbit comes out of this bush
And for you, a big thank you
Asking if this black man has change
Is making the man very ashamed

At that moment, the black man who heard the conversation
Called the young man in a polite way
Took out a package from his pocket
With more than a hundred
Rolled pumpkin flowers
One by one, he threw them on the table
I'm sorry I couldn't give you change
The dandy smiled awkwardly
Surely you must be a deputy
By the red color of these notes
It seems like money that was buried
Don't widen your eyes, said the black man
It's just the remains of what I have
Stashed away

These red notes from the earth
Are pure red earth
It's where I planted seven years ago
Two hundred and eighty thousand coffee plants
This land that water doesn't wash away
That sustains Brazil standing
You, riding on your riches
Never lack friends and some women
It's with them that we import
The Cadillacs, Fords, and Chevrolets
For the young dandies later
To show off like a colonel

The dandy apologized a thousand times
Ended a bit embarrassed
Would like to risk his luck
Where is this immense treasure hidden
That's easy, replied the black man
If you're shaken by the hoe
The land there is worth gold
And your future will be guaranteed
This land is blessed by God
It's not a sales pitch, I wasn't born there
It's in the state of Paraná
Where my beloved little ranch is