Lenda Viva (Living legend) – Mestre Boa Voz
(chorus – in rodas usually only the chorus is sang, the chorus was the original capoeira song which Mestre Boa Voz – and others, see below – expanded upon)
Mandei, caiá meu sobrado – I asked for my hut to be whitewashed
Mandei, mandei, mandei – I asked, I asked, I asked
Mandei caiá de amarelo – I asked for it be done in yellow
Caiei, caiei, caiei!
Amarelo que lembra dourado – Yellow that looks golden
Dourado, que é meu berimbau – golden, that is my berimbau
Dourado, de cordão de ouro – golden, of gold belt
Besouro, Besouro, Besouro
Pra quem nunca ouviu falar – For those who never heard of
Pra aqueles que dizem: que é lenda! – And for those who say: it’s a legend!
Pois saibam que Besouro preto – Then learn that Besouro Preto.
Viveu, viveu e morreu! – Lived, lived and died!
Pras bandas de Maracangalha, – Towards Maracangalha
Sem temer a inimigo nenhum – without fear for any enemy
Não valeu, seu corpo fechado – his closed body was not enough
Pra faca de aticum! – against the aticum knife
Mas mesmo depois de morto – but even after dead
Entre uma e outra cantiga – amongst this and other ditty (song)
Besouro vai sempre viver – Besouro will live forever
Enquanto existir mandinga! – for as long as mandinga exists
(chorus)
Mandei, caiá meu sobrado
Mandei, mandei, mandei
Mandei caiá de amarelo
Caiei, caiei, caiei!
I like to play it on the guitar -> https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mestre-boa-voz/lenda-viva-chords-3691916
Mestre Casquinha’s Version:
Mestre Toni Vargas/Brasilia/Boca Rica