“Tiro cruzado” (Borges & Ângelo, 1972)
My friends at Brazuca Sounds released another excellent bonus episode last week about this song, written by Nelson Ângelo and Márcio Borges and performed by the former with Joyce. The lyrics below, portraying a playful game of challenge (like truth or dare, but all dares), were written all in one go. The song became an immense hit with dozens of big names covering it over the years (including Sérgio Mendes). In addition to “crossfire,” the phrase “tiro cruzado” also refers to a soccer kick that crosses the goal—a cross or crossing shot. Even though I feel like that interpretation fits better with the playful sense of this song, I’m not sure when that term started being used in the sport, so (at least for now) I’m sticking with “crossfire.” The metaphorical undertones of protest against the military regime may be better captured by “crossfire” as well.
“Crossfire”
Jump from a wall, fall from a horse
I wanna see you jump
Shadow in the dark, ripe green
I wanna see you run
Jump sideways, crossfire
I wanna see you dance
I wanna see you cut with a jackknife
I wanna see you hold on now
“Tiro cruzado”
Pula do muro, cai do cavalo
Pula que eu quero ver
Sombra no escuro, verde maduro
Corre que eu quero ver
Salta de lado, tiro cruzado
Dança que eu quero ver
Corta de canivete que eu quero ver
Segura que é agora que eu quero ver