Portela Na Avenida (Samba-Exaltação)

Portela
I've never seen anything more beautiful
When she steps onto the runway
And enters the avenue
It looks like
The wonder of a watercolor that appeared
The blue mantle of Brazil's patroness
Our Lady of Aparecida
That drags along
And the crowd in the street singing
It's like a prayer, a ritual
It's the samba procession blessing
The festival of the divine carnival

Portela
She's the goddess of samba, the past reveals
And the old guard stands watch like sentinels
And that's why I hear this voice calling me
Portela
On your flag, this divine mantle
Your soaring eagle is the holy spirit
In the temple of samba

The shepherdesses and the shepherds
Are arriving from the city, from the slums
To defend your colors
Like faithful in the holy mass of the chapel

Hail to samba, hail to the saint, hail to her
Hail to the blue and white mantle of Portela
Parading triumphantly over the altar of the carnival