Herói Sem Medalha

I am a son of the countryside
From the great state of Minas Gerais
I was a hero without a medal
In the profession of a cart driver
Pulling logs from the woods
With twelve Pantanal oxen
I helped to open up
Our Brazilian backlands
Without vanity, I confess
Of our immense progress
I was one of the pioneers

Look how destiny
Changes a man's life
A wicked disease
Consumes my cattle
Only a mixed-breed ox remained
That I called werewolf
Because it was black as coal
That's why I gave it that name
But shortly after
I sold that ox
So my children wouldn't go hungry

Displeased with my luck
I decided to move on
And in a big city
I went to live with my family
Because I was illiterate
I had to submit
To work in the slaughterhouse
To earn our bread
As I was a strong man
I stunned the beef cattle
For my comrades to bleed

See how our life
Changes suddenly
I, who sometimes cried
When a cow got sick
There I was forced
To kill the innocent cattle
But one day destiny
Transformed me once again
A coal-colored ox
To die by my hands
Was right in front of me

When I saw my ox cart driver
I couldn't contain the emotion
My eyes filled with tears
And the tears fell to the ground
The ox recognized me
And licked my hand
Unable to save the life
Of the pet ox
I asked for my pay and left
I gave up right then
On this ungrateful profession