Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
E a manteiga não é minha
E a manteiga é de ioiô
Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
E a manteiga não é minha
E a manteiga é de ioiô
Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
A manteiga é de ioiô
Caiu na água e se molhou
Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
A manteiga é do patrão
Caiu no chão e derramou
Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
A manteiga não é minha
É prá filha de ioiô
Vou dizer a meu sinhô
Que a manteiga derramou
I'm going to tell my lord
That the butter spilled
The butter is not mine
It is the master's butter
I'm going to tell my boss
That the butter spilled
The butter is not mine
The butter is the boss’
I'm going to tell my boss
That the butter spilled
The butter is the boss’
It fell in the water and got wet
I'm going to tell my boss
That the butter spilled
The butter is the boss'
It fell on the ground and spilled
I'm going to tell my boss
That the butter spilled
The butter is not mine
It's for the master's daughter
I'm going to tell my boss
That the butter spilled
A slave narrative about a "mysterious" spillage. A container full of butter has been knocked over, and no one is taking responsibility. When asked, a slave says, "it's not my butter, it's the master's butter,"which, while technically true, does not help resolve the matter. Slaves would often use such tactics of "passive resistance" to remind the master of his dependence on them.
