Corta cana Lyrics Translation in English

Trabalha negro escravo, corta cana no canavial

Works, black slave, cutting sugarcane in the sugarcane field

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

Eu tive pai, eu tive mãe eu tive filha

I had a father, I had a mother, I had a daughter

Mas perdi toda a família, a liberdade e o amor

But I lost my whole family, freedom, and love

E hoje em dia eu só tenho dor e calo

And nowadays, all I have is pain and calluses

Trabalhando no embalo, do chicote do feitor

Working to the rhythm of the overseer's whip

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

Eu já fui rei, a minha mulher foi rainha

I used to be a king, my wife was a queen

Pela mata eu ia e vinha, livre como animal

Through the forest, I roamed freely, like an animal

Mas hoje em dia, sou como um bicho acuado

But nowadays, I'm like a cornered beast

Trabalhando acorrentado, preso no canavial

Working, chained, imprisoned in the sugarcane field

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

A alma negra nunca foi escravizada, correu menina levada

The black soul was never enslaved, it ran, a mischievous girl

Brincado no céu de lá

Playing in the sky over there

Roubaram o Sol, roubaram a noite e meu dia

They stole the sun, they stole the night and my day

Só não roubaram a poesia que eu trago no meu cantar

They just didn't steal the poetry that I carry in my singing

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

Eu sou guerreiro tenho fé e tenho crença

I am a warrior, I have faith and belief

Porque me firmo na bênção, que ganhei dos orixás

Because I stand firm in the blessing I received from the orixás

Sou cana forte, sou memé cana caiana

I am strong sugarcane, I am Memé Caiana sugarcane

Minha doçura te engana, é ruim de me derrubar

My sweetness deceives you, it's hard to bring me down

O corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, nego velho

The sugarcane cutter, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, old man

Corta cana no canavial

Cuts sugarcane in the sugarcane field

O nego velho corta cana, corta cana, corta cana, no canavial, nego velho

The old man cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, cuts sugarcane, in the sugarcane field, old man