Construção [English translation]

Loved that time as if it was the last time

Kissed his wife as if she was the last one

And each of his sons like each was his only son

And crossed the street with his timid pace

Climbed the construction like he was a machine

Built on the ground four solid walls

Brick by brick in a magical design

His eyes full of cement and tears

Sat down to rest like it was a saturday

Ate beans and rice1like he was a prince

Drank and sobbed like he was a castaway

Danced and giggled like he was listening to music

And stumbled on the sky like he was a drunk

And floated on the air like he was a bird

And fell on the ground like a flacid bundle

Agonized in the middle of the public crosswalk

Died in the wrong way lane2 holding up the traffic

Loved that time like he was the last one

Kissed his wife like she was the only one

And each of his sons like each was the prodigal son

And crossed the street with his drunk pace

Climbed the construction like it was solid

Built on the ground four magical walls

Brick by brick in a logical design

His eyes full of cement and traffic

Sat down to rest like he was a prince

Ate beans and rice like it was the best

Drank and sobbed like he was a machine

Danced and giggled like he was the next

And stumbled on the ground like he was listening to music

And floated on the the air like it was saturday

And fell on the ground like a timid bundle

Agonized in the middle of the castaway crosswalk

Died in the wrong way lane holding up the audience3

Loved that time like he was a machine

Kissed his wife like it was logical

Built on the ground four flacid walls

Sat down to rest like he was a bird

And floated on the air like he was a prince

And fell on the ground like a drunk bundle

Died in the wrong way lane holding up the saturday

For this bread to eat, for this ground to sleep on

The certificate to be born and the permission to smile

God may pay you back

For letting me breathe, for letting me exist

God may pay you back

For the free cachaça4 that we have to swallow

For the smoke and the disgrace that we have to cof

For the scaffolds we have to fall from

God may pay you back

For the carpideira woman5 to worship us and spit on us

And for the screwworm flies kissing and covering us

And for the ultimate peace that will at last redeem us

God may pay you back

1. a popular dish in Brazil, especially between the poorer people2. wasn't sure on how to translate that, since english aparently doesn't have a direct translation for "contramão", which means driving on the wrong side of the road, on the opposite direction3. in portuguese "público" means "public" as well as "audience/crowd"4. it is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil, made from sugarcane juice5. a woman that is paid to cry at funerals

• Artist:Chico Buarque
• Album:Construção (1971)