Apologia Ao Jumento (O Jumento É Nosso Irmão)

It's true, my lord
This story of the backlands
Father Vieira said
That the donkey is our brother

Hee-haw hee-haw hee-haw hee-haw hee-haw
The donkey is our brother
Whether you like it or not!

The donkey has always been
The greatest developer of the backlands!
Helped the man in his daily work
Helped the man
Helped Brazil to develop

Dragged firewood
Wood, stone, lime, cement, brick, tile
Built dams, roads
Carried water to the man's house
Went to the market and served as a mount
The donkey is our brother!

And the man, in return
What does he give him?
Punishment, beating, stick on the legs, stick on the back
Stick on the neck, stick on the face, on the ears
Ah, the donkey is good, the man is bad!

And when the poor animal can't take the weight anymore
Of a load, and lies down on the ground
Do you think the man comes, helps
The little animal to get up? Hmm...no!
He just lights a fire under its tail
The donkey is good
The donkey is sacred
The man is bad

The man is only good for giving nicknames to the donkey
The poor thing has nicknames that never end
Babau, Gangão, Breguesso, Fofarkichão
Image of the Devil, Musgueiro, Corneteiro, Seresteiro
Bell-ringer, Clock... Yes, he tells the right time in the backlands
All these are nicknames the Donkey has
Astronaut, Professor, Student
Lawyer of the Beasts

He's called Student
Because when the student doesn't know the lesson at school
The teacher immediately shouts
You don't know because you're a donkey!
And the student, to get back at him
Gave the donkey the nickname of teacher
Because the teacher teaches to read for free. Yes!
The one who teaches to read for free is the donkey, my son
That's how it is
A! E! I! O! U! U!
Synonym! Synonym! Synonym!
Synonym! Synonym! Synonym!
Only those who don't want to learn to read!
That's the donkey, our brother
Sacred animal!
Served as transportation for Our Lord
When he went to Egypt
When Our Lord was a little boy

Every donkey has a cross on its back, right?
You can look, it has
Every donkey has a cross on its back
It was there that the holy child took a pee
That's why he's called sacred
Ha ha, donkey my brother
The greatest friend of the backlands!

He's full of tricks, yes sir
Once he played a trick on me, boy
That I'll never forget
When the first rain comes in the backlands
We quickly plant some corn
In the trash heap of our house
Because it grows fast and it's sweet corn
It grows quickly, quickly!
The donkey decided to be my partner!
I said: I'll catch him!
When he invaded my field...he
I set a trap, got close to him and said
Eating my corn, huh! I'll catch you!
He shook his head, turned on his antennas
Twisted his tail, twisted, twisted, twisted
Gave a kick and ran off!
Jumped so high over the fence
That he didn't even touch my trap
Ran about 10 meters, turned around
Looked at me and teased me
Mr. Luiz! Mr. Luiz! Ate your corn!
And how! And how! And how! And how!
Son of a gun! Ate it all!

But I like him
Because he's a hardworking little servant!
Sacred animal!
Donkey, my brother, I acknowledge your worth!
You're a patriot! You're a great Brazilian!
I'm here, donkey, to acknowledge your worth, my brother
Now, my patriot, in the name of my backlands
I follow your vicar, in this eternal gratitude
Accept our homage
Oh donkey, our brother, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw