Xica da Silva [English translation]

Ay ay ay, ay ay, ay, ay ay ay, ay ay ay, ay ay...

Ay ay ay, ay ay, ay, ay ay ay, ay ay ay, ay ay...

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.1

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Xica da Silva, the Black, the Black.

From slave to lover, woman, woman,

of the nobleman and caretaker, João Fernandes.2

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

The empress of Tijuco,3

the lady of Diamantina,4

lived with her court

surrounded by pretty maids,

in a castle in the field of straws

with a solid and refined architecture,

where there was an articifical lake

and a luxurious church,5

that her love, João Fernandes, the caretaker,

ordered to be build just for her - ay, ay, ay...

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Very rich and envied,

feared and hated.

Because of her wigs,

every one of them of a heart,

jewelry, exotic garments

from the Indies, Lisboa and Paris,

the Black was required

to be received like an important lady

of the court of King Louis,6

of the court of King Louis.

Ay ay ay, ay ay ay, ay ay...

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva, the Black.

Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay, ay ay...

Chu, churu.

Chu, churu.

Chu, churu.

Chu, churu.

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva...

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva...

Xica da, Xica da, Xica da, Xica da Silva...

1. Francisca da Silva (c. 1732 - 1796).2. João Fernandes de Oliveira (1720 - 1779).3. Arraial do Tijuco; today Diamantina, see below.4. Diamantina, Minas Gerais.5. Due to Xica's background as a slave and her black skin colour she was banished from the parish church. Therefore, João built her a luxurious church, which only she could attend.6. Portugal only had one king by the name Louis through its monarchy's history. That was King Louis I (Rei Luís I). However, his reign didn't begin before 1838.

• Artist:Jorge Ben Jor
• Album:África Brasil (1976), Track 07