“Jorge da Capadócia” (Jorge Ben, 1975)
Source: As fotos da Virada!, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Happy Saint George’s Day! What better song to translate today than a song by a George about a George? This high energy song was on Jorge Ben’s album “Solta o Pavão” (“Release the Peacock”) and is also the subject of today’s Brazuca Sounds podcast episode. After Jorge Ben’s intro, the middle section of lyrics are translated almost directly from the Prayer to St. George for Protection. My translation below takes the Portuguese (which is more modern than the original English) back into English (like a game of linguistic telephone), but for those who are curious, the prayer goes
I will go dressed and armed with the weapons of Saint George so that my enemies, having feet, will not reach me;
having hands, will not trap me; having eyes, will not see me, neither with thought can they cause me harm.
Firearms will not reach my body; knives and swords will break without touching my body,
ropes and chains will break without tying my body.
Jesus Christ protects and defends me with the power of His Holy and Divine Grace.
The Virgin of Nazareth covers me with her sacred and divine mantle, protecting me in all my dolors and afflictions.
And God, with His Divine Mercy and great power, is my defender against the evils and persecutions of my enemies.
Glorious Saint George, in the name of God, extend to me your shield and your powerful arms,
defending me with your strength and your greatness;
and may my enemies underneath your feet become humble and submissive to you.
So Be it in the Power of God, of Jesus Christ and of the Divine Holy Spirit.
The rest of the lyrics (the intro and outro call-and-response style verses and the “perseverance” part) were written by Jorge Ben - and call out St. George’s battle with the dragon. There are several twists in this song, including the musical style shifts between the various sections. In terms of content, what may seem like a big twist is the switch from the Catholic Saint George to the West African orixá Ogum. However, in the Candomblé of Brazil, Ogum is often syncretized with St. George so it’s really not that much of a stretch. And fittingly, on this St. George’s day falling on a Wednesday, Ogum’s consecrated day is Wednesday. (The “ogan” is a priest-like figure in candomblé.) Feliz Dia de São Jorge!
Listen to Jorge Ben’s original song
Listen to Caetano’s cover (1975)
Listen to Fernanda Abreu’s cover (1993)
Listen to Racionais MC’s cover (1997)
(There’s also a 2024 film!)
“Jorge da Capadócia”
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge sentou praça na cavalaria
Eu estou feliz porque eu também sou da sua companhia
Eu estou vestido com as roupas e as armas de Jorge
Para que meus inimigos tenham pés, não me alcancem
Para que meus inimigos tenham mãos, não me peguem, não me toquem
Para que meus inimigos tenham olhos e não me vejam
E nem mesmo um pensamento eles possam ter para me fazerem mal
Armas de fogo, meu corpo não alcançará
Facas, lanças se quebrem, sem o meu corpo tocar
Cordas, correntes se arrebentem, sem o meu corpo amarrar
Pois eu estou vestido com as roupas e as armas de Jorge
Jorge é de Capadócia, viva Jorge!
Jorge é de Capadócia, salve Jorge!
Perseverança, ganhou do sórdido fingimento
E disso tudo nasceu o amor
Perseverança, ganhou do sórdido fingimento
E disso tudo nasceu o amor
Ogan toca pra Ogum
Ogan toca pra Ogum
Ogan, Ogan, toca pra Ogum
Jorge é da Capadócia
Jorge é da Capadócia
Jorge é da Capadócia
Jorge é da Capadócia
Ogan toca pra Ogum
Ogan toca pra Ogum
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
Jorge da Capadócia
“George of Cappadocia”
George of Cappadocia!
George of Cappadocia!
George of Cappadocia!
George of Cappadocia!
George enlisted in the cavalry
I’m happy because I’m also in his company
I am dressed with George’s clothes and weapons
So that my enemies having feet may not reach me
So that my enemies having hands may not catch me, may not touch me
So that my enemies may have eyes and not see me
And not even a thought may they have that can do me harm
Firearms my body will not reach
Knives, spears may break, without touching my body
Ropes, chains may break, without binding my body
As I am dressed in George’s clothes and weapons
George is from Cappadocia, viva George!
George is from Cappadocia, hail Jorge!
Perseverance beat sordid pretense
And from all that was born love
Perseverance beat sordid pretense
And from all that was born love
Ogan play for Ogum
Ogan play for Ogum
Ogan, Ogan, play for Ogum
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia
Ogan play for Ogum
Ogan play for Ogum
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia
George is from Cappadocia