The Importance of this song ( I )

Zé Ramalho is a great singer from the North of Brasil; his words are hard to understand and  they make us reflect about the social and spend the day wondering what he means by his lyrics. I went to his concert once, the truth be told I didn't enjoy it, because the enviroment wasn't helpful.

One of his biggest hits is, doubtless, "Cidadão" which means citizen in portuguese. He sings about the difficulties of a probable bricklayer who had helped to build buildings that he can't get in.

This man gets pissed off during the story 'cuz while he was looking at one of the buildings he has built, a citizen comes and asks: "Are you admired or planning to steal it?"; suddenly, we can realize a social prejudice, 'cuz the guy was just looking and didn't intend to rob or steal anything.

Mainly in big cities, that really happens. Men and women are judged by their clothing, their way of being or even by being poor; is very common to hide our belongings when we find a black child with ripped clothes, in an attempt to not be robbed. Unfortunately, this 'fear' that many of us try to disguise is a kind of discrimination and it hurts. Therefore, the forethought that someone is coming to rob you just cause he doesn't have "appropriate" clothes is not always true... There are thieves who steal wearing suit, like Brazilian politicians.

"Why did I leave the North?

- I wondered.

There, the dry punished

but the few I cropped,

I had the right to gather."

The Rural Exodus is also exposed in the song. Every since the Industrial Revolution, people tend to leave the poorer regions, mainly the camps, to go to big cities where they can find a better life or not. In this case, the character left the north to sick a better life in a metropolis. He could find a job, but could get a good life. The city made him see things he has never seen before such as Geographic Segragration, Discrimination, Poverty in all kinds, Hunger etc.

It was where Christ told me:

"Fella, stop being such a retard!

Don't let it down."

The faith of the character is where he is propped; thus, he is strong enough to face the prejudice and the problems he has to pass through. Many people, in Brasil, are supported by his God, because they believe faithfully that He is going to make everything easier.

[Christ] "It was me who created the Earth.

Filled the rivers, made the mountain range,

didn't let anything lack.

Today the man created wings

and at the most of the homes, 

I can't get inside neither."

The writer of the song also criticizes the lack of God in people's life. According to him, the Superior Being created everything, filled the river, made the mountain range and didn't let anything lack, however the man learned how to carry on without him, so he always forget to thank everything he got to his 'Father' and then, it's not allowed his entrance in most of the houses.

In short, the geniality of the compositor and the singer gets exposed in this song, where it makes a huge review of the society and its segregation relations.  

M.K.O.P

PS. Always remember that the philosophy is our friend. However, its importance you'll have to figure out by yourselves.

'Tá vendo aquele edifício moço? - Can you see that building, sir?

Ajudei a levantar. - I helped to rise it

Foi um tempo de aflição, 'era' quatro condução - It was a tough time, i had to take four buses.

Duas pra ir, duas pra voltar. - Two to go, two to come back.

Hoje depois dele pronto, - Now after he's ready,

olho pra cima e fico tonto; - I look up and get stunned

mas me vem um cidadão - but, comes a citizen

e me diz desconfiado:  - and tells me, suspiciously:

"Tu tá aí admirado ou tá querendo roubar?" - "Are you admired or planning to steal it?"

Meu domingo tá perdido, vou pra casa entristecido. - My Sunday is lost, I come home sadly

Dá vontade de beber. - I just want a drink.

E pra aumentar meu tédio, - And to increase my boredom

eu nem posso olhar pro prédio que eu ajudei a fazer - I can't even look at the building I helped to build.

'Tá vendo aquele colégio moço? - Can you see that school, sir?

Eu também trabalhei lá. - I worked there too

Lá eu quase me arrebento, - I could almost got burst,

fiz a massa, pus cimento, ajudei a rebocar.. - made cob, put the cement, helped to tow...

Minha filha inocente veio pra mim toda contente: - My daughter came to me, happily

"Pai vou me matricular!" - "Dad, I'll get registered"

Mas me diz um cidadão: - "But, again comes a citizen:"

"Criança de pé no chão aqui não pode estudar!" - "A barefoot child here can't study!"

Essa dor doeu mais forte. - That pain hurt much more

Por que que é qu'eu deixei o norte? - Why did I leave the North?

- eu me pus a me dizer. - I wondered.

Lá a seca castigava, - There, the dry punished,

mas o pouco que eu plantava. - But the few I cropped

Tinha direito a colher - I had the right to gather.

'Tá vendo aquela igreja moço, Can you see that church, sir, 

onde o padre diz amém? - where the priest says amen?

Pus o sino e o badalo, enchi minha mão de calo. - I put the bell and its clapper, my hand was full of callus.

Lá eu trabalhei também. - I worked there as well

Lá foi que valeu a pena, - And it was where it was really worthy. 

tem quermesse, tem novena. - There is bazaar, there is prayers

E o padre me deixa entrar. - and the priest lets me in.

Foi lá que Cristo me disse: - It was where Christ told me:

"Rapaz deixe de tolice, - "Fella, stop being such a retard!

não se deixe amedrontar! - Don't let it down.

Fui eu quem criou a terra - It was me who created the Earth,

Enchi o rio, fiz a serra, - Filled the rivers, made the mountain range

não deixei nada faltar. - Didn't let anything lack.

Hoje o homem criou asas - Today the man created wings

e na maioria das casas - and at he most of the homes

Eu também não posso entrar" - I can't get inside neither."