Homenagem ao Malandro Lyrics Translation in English

Eu fui fazer um samba em homenagem

I went to make a samba in homage

à nata da malandragem,

To the cream of the cunning,

que conheço de outros carnavais.

Whom I've known from other carnivals.

Eu fui à Lapa e perdi a viagem,

I went to Lapa and the trip was in vain,

que aquela tal malandragem

For that kind of street smarts

não existe mais.

No longer exists.

Agora já não é normal,

Now it's no longer normal,

o que dá de malandro regular profissional,

What we have are professional rascals,

malandro com o aparato de malandro oficial,

Rascals with the gear of an official scoundrel,

malandro candidato a malandro federal,

Rascals aspiring to be federal scoundrels,

malandro com retrato na coluna social;

Rascals with their portrait in the social column;

malandro com contrato, com gravata e capital,

Rascals with contracts, ties, and capital,

que nunca se dá mal.

Who never come to harm.

Mas o malandro para valer, não espalha,

But a true scoundrel doesn't boast,

aposentou a navalha,

Retired the razor,

tem mulher e filho e tralha e tal.

Has a wife and children, belongings, and all.

Dizem as más línguas que ele até trabalha,

Rumor has it he even works,

mora lá longe e chacoalha num trem da Central.

Lives far away and shakes on a Central train.