João Bosco - O Bêbado e a Equilibrista (The Drunk And The Rope-walker)

O Bêbado e Equilibrista by João Bosco & Aldir Blanc
From DVD Obrigado Gente João Bosco ao Vivo (Universal Music), 2006
Recorder Fev 2006, Auditório Ibirapuera, São Paulo, Brazil

1978, summertime, Rio de Janeiro. Folk around the table, among them João (Bosco) and Aldir (Blanc), chatting and sipping beer. Someone recall Charles Chaplin, who passed way a few days ago, precisely in 1977 Christmas. They talked about his life and works, and then João reminded he had composed beautiful songs, such as Smile and took his guitar and began to play it. Aldir painted a picture of a drunk wearing derby, bowing to Brazilia in despite theyre suffering and missing their exiled relatives and friends because of military dictatorship.

Henfil (Brazilian cartunista) was demanding for amnesty to get his exiled brother Betinho (human right militant) back to home. Women were (Marias) crying for their husbands, tortured and dead by military dictatorship. Clarice Herzog was screaming in the street They killed my husband !! (Vladimir Herzog was an Brazilian journalist. Hes found hanged in prison, however its believed to have dead while tortured.

Rope-walker (equilibrista) is an allusion of freedom always in danger.
This song became practically an amnesty movements hymn.
Then in 1979 the Amnesty has come.

It was this way this song has born.
Ant thats why all the audience is singing the song highly moved and some with teary eyes.

FREE TRANSLATION

The day was falling like overpass
And a drunk wearing mourning recalled Charles Chaplin
The moon like whorehouse madam asking each cold star for a lent brightness
And clouds up there like blotting paper absorbs the tortured stains
Such a crazy distress !!
The drunk wearing derby behaving daringly in Brazilian night
(I believe, the author meant Brazilian night as dark time, military dictatorship time)

My dearest Brazil
Who dreams of Henfils brother coming home
So many people have departed in a hurry
Our sweet home cries. And so Marias. And so Clarissas
But I do know that such a pain cant be in vain
The hope, dancing on the swinging rope
Knows that each step is dangerous
And the show must go on

http://musicaeletras.zip.net/arch2007-04-01_2007-04-07.html
(Portuguese)