The Ocean Is Yemanja’s

O oceano é de Yemanjá

The Ocean Is Yemanja’s

Terra Brasilis! We have land on sightTerra Brasilis! We have land on sight
Our land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird criesOur land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird cries
Our grooves, full of lifeOur grooves, full of life
On our skies, the starlightOn our skies, the starlight
Our land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird criesOur land, of palm-trees, where the mockingbird cries

Axé!Axé!
Oshalá!Oshalá!
Odoya Yemanja!Odoya Yemanja!

Euphoria baffled by yoruba criesEuphoria baffled by yoruba cries
Ossaim granted passage, His precious red treesOssaim granted passage, His precious red trees
But when he saw his people, the God melted in tearsBut when he saw his people, the God melted in tears
Chains aren’t right adornments to heirs of kings and queensChains aren’t right adornments to heirs of kings and queens

Heirs to the burden of creation,Heirs to the burden of creation
Pride of the mother of the EarthPride of the mother of the Earth
Sun and Moon nurtured from their breastsSun and Moon nurtured from their breasts
Legacy held by Dandaras, MariellesLegacy held by Dandaras, Marielles

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty watersYèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of lifeWe’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the oceanAgainst the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the stormOxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

Salve Yemanja, rainha do marSalve Yemanja, rainha do mar
Proteja os filhos de Ogum, OrixáProteja os filhos de Ogum, Orixá
Senhora do mundo e daqueles que nem por um segundoSenhora do mundo e daqueles que nem por um segundo
Desistem de lutarDesistem de lutar
Sou preta da Bahia, tambor de CandombléSou preta da Bahia, tambor de Candomblé
Sou filha da rainha, mãe das ondas ela éSou filha da rainha, mãe das ondas ela é
Minha terra tem palmeiras, tem belezas, tem guerreirasMinha terra tem palmeiras, tem belezas, tem guerreiras
Tem um povo que tem muito a cantarTem um povo que tem muito a cantar

The conquerors, and in disgust I use this wordThe conquerors, and in disgust I use this word
Their pale arrogance, still denying that our worldTheir pale arrogance, still denying that our world
Was given shape by the wombs of Sheba, Yemanjá and IaraWas given shape by the wombs of Sheba, Yemanjá and Iara
And all dark skinned women tortured by timeAnd all dark skinned women tortured by time

Descendants of Oxum,Descendants of Oxum
beauty draped in goldBeauty draped in gold
The treasures of Africa run through Brazilian bloodThe treasures of Africa run through Brazilian blood
But what is land, if not a part of the Aiyê?But what is land, if not a part of the Aiyê?
Plains, mountains and valleysPlains, mountains and valleys
Inspiration to poems of black fishermenInspiration to poems of black fishermen

Silenciaram nossa vozSilenciaram nossa voz
América Latina, PindoramaAmérica Latina, Pindorama
Protestar é terrorismo onde bala queima roupa de criançaProtestar é terrorismo onde bala queima roupa de criança

Travesti, kamikazeTravesti, kamikaze
Me recomponho, entre escombrosMe recomponho, entre escombros
Toque no meu corpo ou quaseToque no meu corpo ou quase
Mas jamais apagarão o que componhoMas jamais apagarão o que componho

Agora o sangue que cai não é nossoAgora o sangue que cai não é nosso
Agora paga o preçoAgora paga o preço
Vocês provocaram o ódioVocês provocaram o ódio
O revide vem do guetoO revide vem do gueto

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty watersYèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of lifeWe’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the oceanAgainst the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the stormOxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

Paguem por cadaPaguem por cada
Vida arrancadaVida arrancada
Pelo sangue na calçadaPelo sangue na calçada
Cada Travesti assassinadaCada Travesti assassinada
Pelas almas suicidas que encerraram sua própria jornadaPelas almas suicidas que encerraram sua própria jornada

É foda memoÉ foda memo
Não tem como não ficar cansadaNão tem como não ficar cansada
Quando levantamos floresQuando levantamos flores
Vocês nos respondem com rajadaVocês nos respondem com rajada

Vandalismo é respostaVandalismo é resposta
Pra esses patrimôniosPra esses patrimônios
Sobre senhores de engenhoSobre senhores de engenho
Levantemos estátuasLevantemos estátuas
Para Laura e DandaraPara Laura e Dandara
Juntes venceremos!Juntes venceremos!

Yèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty watersYèyé Omo Ejá, mother of salty waters
We’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of lifeWe’re fishes adventuring in cruel tides of life
Against the rage and madness of the oceanAgainst the rage and madness of the ocean
Oxumaré shall send a rainbow after the stormOxumaré shall send a rainbow after the storm

And he did. And he still does.And he did. And he still does
It’s hard not to lose hopeIt’s hard not to lose hope
But giving up is far worseBut giving up is far worse

Awà je omon e ya kekeré akiAwà je omon e ya kekeré aki
Awà ààbo ayò Yemoja ààbo ayóAwà ààbo ayò Yemoja ààbo ayó
Okun ayaba ori olugbalaOkun ayaba ori olugbala
Dimu ase na gbekele YemojaDimu ase na gbekele Yemoja

Guard me from the seaGuard me from the sea
Been here for so many yearsBeen here for so many years
Today I feel adriftToday I feel adrift
My voice, taken by my fearsMy voice, taken by my fears

Let me succumb to your embrace, oh my dear motherLet me succumb to your embrace, oh my dear mother
My land has sunkenMy land has sunken
The seafloor, my only shipThe seafloor, my only ship