Os vampiros

José Afonso

Originale	English Version by Riccardo Venturi June 12, 2008
OS VAMPIROS	THE VAMPIRES
No céu cinzento, sob o astro mudo,	In the grey sky under the speechless moon
Batendo as asas p’la noite calada,	flapping their wings in the silent night
Vêm em bandos, com pés de veludo,	they come by packs at a velvety pace
Chupar o sangue fresco da manada.	to suck fresh blood from the flock.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
A toda a parte chegam os vampiros,	The vampires come from everywhere,
Poisam nos prédios, poisam nas calçadas...	they alight on roofs and on pavements…
Trazem no ventre despojos antigos	They got old spoils in their filled bellies,
E nada os prende às vidas acabadas.	nothing can nail them to broken lives.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Se alguém se engana com seu ar sisudo	Someone is deceived by their serious look
E lhes franqueia as portas, à chegada,	and lets them in when they come:
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
No chão do medo, tombam os vencidos,	The vanquished fall to the ground with fear,
Ouvem-se os gritos, na noite abafada,	cries are heard in the choked night.
Jazem nos fossos vítimas de um credo	Victims of an idea lie dead in the dikes,
E não se esgota o sangue da manada.	and there's always fresh blood of a flock.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
São os mordomos do universo todo	They are the masters of the universe,
Senhores à força, mandadores sem lei	lords by the force, rulers without law,
Enchem as tulhas, bebem vinho novo,	they fill up barns and drink new wine,
Dançam a ronda no pinhal do rei	they dance the rondeau in the king's pinewood.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Se alguém se engana com seu ar sisudo	Someone is deceived by their serious look
e lhes franqueia as portas à chegada,	and lets them in when they come:
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	They eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada.	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.
Eles comem tudo, eles comem tudo,	they eat up everything, eat up everything,
Eles comem tudo e não deixam nada!	they eat up everything and don't leave anything.