Herói Sem Medalha

I am a son of the interior of the great state of Minas Gerais
I was an unsung hero in the career path
Pulling logs from the bush with twelve Pantanal oxen
I helped to explore our Brazilian backlands
Without vanity, I acknowledge our immense progress
I was one of the pioneers

See how fate changes a man's life
A nasty disease is consuming my cattle
There was only one mixed-breed ox left, which was called werewolf
Because it was as black as coal, that's why I gave it that name
Shortly after, I sold that ox
So that the children don't go hungry

Frustrated with my fate there, I decided to move
And I went to live in a big city with my family
Because I was illiterate, I had to submit
Working in a slaughterhouse to earn a living
Because I was a strong man, I used to slash the cattle's necks
For comrades to bleed

Just look at how our lives can change so suddenly
I, who sometimes cried when an ox got sick
There I was forced to kill the innocent animal
But one day fate transformed me again
The charcoal-colored ox, destined to die in my hand
It was right in front of me

When I saw my ox cart, I couldn't contain my emotion
Her eyes filled with tears and the sobs fell to the ground
The ox recognized me and licked my hand
Unable to save the life of their pet ox
I asked for the bill and left, I gave up right away
Of this thankless profession