O BÊBADO E A EQUILIBRISTA by João Bosco and Aldir Blanc as sung by Elis Regina, new version by Joel Sattler

New title: “The Drunkard and the Tightrope Walker”

At high noon

A drunk in black like Charlie Chaplin

Reminded me of what could happen

If things got too crazy…

The moon looked

Like madam of a bawdy house

As every customer came out took

A shine or went without

And rain clouds

Back in the black hole of the night

Sucked all the air out of the daylight

Suffocating!

Loco!

The drunkard in the bowler hat laughed

He laughed and then he tipped his hat in 

That night in old Brazil

My Brazil…

We waited

For the lost brother of Henfil

So many people out there still

We’ll never be forgetting

Crying!

Our homeland is our Mother still

Weeping Marias and Clarissas

Down in the dirt, Brazil…

But know,

The heartbreak can’t go on forever

We must believe things will get better

Keep on hoping

Dancer!

Out on high wire with umbrella

And with each step sing a capella

Be brave but don’t fall off

Hang on!

Oh optimistic tightrope walker

Remember that whatever happens

The show must still go on…

_______________________________   

Original lyrics in Portuguese:

Caía a tarde feito um viaduto

E um bêbado trajando luto

Me lembrou Carlitos...

A lua

Tal qual a dona do bordel

Pedia a cada estrela fria

Um brilho de aluguel

E nuvens!

Lá no mata-borrão do céu

Chupavam manchas torturadas

Que sufoco!

Louco!

O bêbado com chapéu-coco

Fazia irreverências mil

Prá noite do Brasil.

Meu Brasil!...

Que sonha com a volta

Do irmão do Henfil.

Com tanta gente que partiu

Num rabo de foguete

Chora!

A nossa Pátria

Mãe gentil

Choram Marias

E Clarisses

No solo do Brasil...

Mas sei, que uma dor

Assim pungente

Não há de ser inutilmente

A esperança...

Dança na corda bamba

De sombrinha

E em cada passo

Dessa linha

Pode se machucar...

Azar!

A esperança equilibrista

Sabe que o show

De todo artista

Tem que continuar...

My version is based on a recording by Elis Regina:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa1u6EFy8i0

Here’s a live version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kVBqefGcf4

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