The Most Beautiful Song I know

For my friend, Daniel.

It’s of dream and dust
The destiny of one alone
Like me lost
In thought
On my horse

It’s of lasso and noose
Of holster and jiló*
Of this life carried out alone

I’m caipira, Pirapora**
Our Lady of Aparecida
Illuminate the dark mine and guide
The train of my life (2x)

My father was a peon
My mother, loneliness
My brothers lost themselves in life – the price of adventures
I unmarried, I played
I invested, I gave up
If there’s luck, I don’t know
I never saw it

I’m caipira, Pirapora
Our Lady of Aparecida
Illuminate the dark mine and guide
The train of my life (2x)

They told me, nonetheless
That I should come here
To request, through pilgrimage and prayer
Peace from my enemy

Since I don’t know how to pray
I just wanted to show
My gaze, my gaze, my gaze
I’m caipira, Pirapora
Our Lady of Aparecida
Illuminate the dark mine and guide
The train of my life (2x)

*jilo is a fruit like a green tomato common to Brasil, but brought from West Africa by slaves

*”I’m caipira, Pirapora” means I am a poor country man from Pirapora Bom de Jesus