Dendê
Song Lyrics
Dendê, Dendê
lálá e lá, lálá e lá
ô dendê
(Coro)
Dendê, Dendê
lálá e lá, lálá e lá
Levou rasteira
balançou, caiu no chão
se perde a cabeça
também perde a razão
ô dendê
Pro capoeira
que não joga, só estranha
pois acredite
se bater, também apanha
ô dendê
O capoeira
já nasce natural
com manha e malícia
não seja artificial
ô dendê
Quando treinar
ponha na consciência
seja capoeira
não viva de aparência
ô dendê
No jogo duro
com malícia e com mandinga
olho no olho
cuidado, mantenha a ginga
ô dendê
English Translation
Palm oil
there and there, there and there
Hello palm
(Chorus)
Palm Oil
there and there, there and there
Led low
rocked, fell to the ground
if you lose your head
also loses reason
Hello palm
Pro capoeira
who doesn't play, just weird
because believe
if you hit, you also get hit
Hello palm
Capoeira
already born natural
with morning and malice
don't be artificial
Hello palm
When to train
put in awareness
be capoeira
don't look alive
Hello palm
In the hard game
with malice and with mandinga
eye to eye
be careful, keep the swing
Hello palm
History and sentiment behind song
A song about a palm plant brought to Brazil by Africans. Dendê is a palm oil used in Brazilian cooking, especially in the northeast of the country. It has a strong, rich flavor as well as a bright orange color. When something "has dendê," it means it has "flavor". Dendê also connects to the orixas (gods) of candomblé. If a capoeira player has dendê it indicates a deep connection to the game and to the gods.
