“Bebete Vãobora” (Jorge Ben Jor)
Source: As fotos da Virada!, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
For his 84th birthday, one of Jorge Ben Jor’s most well-known songs - “Bebete Vãobora” (“Let’s go, Bebete”) from his 1969 self-titled album (when his name was still “Jorge Ben”). The “vãobora” in the title is a mash up of “vamos” and “embora” which is how Brazilians really do pronounce “let’s go” (or “let’s leave”). And the lyrics really are as prose-y as my translation.
“Let’s go, Bebete”
Let’s go, Bebete
Because it’s time already
Look the rooster has crowed
And the sun is coming up
And you haven’t stopped sambaing
I know that you’re faithful to me
But the neighbors are already looking and talking
I’m your man
And you’re my woman
But the crying baby gets the milk
And our baby is crying for milk
And you know full well
That I have to work soon
I can’t show up late anymore
And don’t even mention skipping
Since the new manager
Isn’t really my friend
And then how would I buy
If I’m at risk
New sandals for you to samba in