“Comida e Bebida” (José Miguel Wisnik, 2000)
In honor of José Miguel Wisnik’s 75th birthday today, I offer a translation of his song “Comida e Bebida” from his 2000 album “São Paulo Rio” (sung by Elza Soares). (Semele is the mother of Dionysus.)
“Food and Drink”
Only two things have value in life
Food and drink
Food and drink
Food is earth
Goddess earth
Give me earth
You old familiar
That you call
By the name that delights you
Since with solid food
She nurses, she nurses
She nurses the mortals
Now add drink to multiply
That Semele’s son divinely brought
From the fruit wet from the vine
Inebriating the mortals
And liquidating their moans
Bringing dream and erasure
Of each day’s debts
A God who gives himself to the gods
A God who offers up himself
There is no better pharmacy for pain
He is owed what is given and received
The good that we have and hold
A messiah that we drink