Mundo Enganador is one of my favorite songs from one of Axé Capoeira CD (Volume 7, I believe) as it embodies Mestre's journey in life and his legacy. This song mostly talks about Capoeira being a valuable legacy that is passed down from father to children (son/daughter). However, it begins with a very interesting problem-solution statement that I personally can relate to, which is defining Capoeira as a form of self-expression that completes the circle in one's life.
I've seen various ways Capoeiristas expresses their feeling in the roda, such as being playful, or combative, or any combination in between. One of the things that Capoeira taught me is to never judge a Capoeirista by the way they play at the moment. Just because one is playing a strong, combative/fighting game doesn't mean that said person is a violent person. We don't know what that person has gone through in life - getting through a divorce or losing a job or just having a lousy day - we don't know. Capoeira may have been the only outlet in which that person is able to express his feeling. Conversely, one having a good day would play in a much more playful fashion, and a good game to me is always about having a good dialogue (or argument) between two Capoeiristas in the roda. Yes, dialogue can turn into an argument, but it's always been said that "what happens in the roda, stays in the roda", and I couldn't agree more.
Here is the full lyric and an approximate translation of it:
Mundo Enganador | Treacherous World |
|---|---|
| Oi vivemos aqui nessa terra | We live here, on this earth |
| Olhándo issó eu fico triste | Looking at this, I am sad On this land, I have not much |
Nesta terra eu não tenho muito | On this land, I have not much |
| Eu tenho um canarinho cantador Berimbau afinado e um cavalo chotão E um carinho da morena faceira que me deu Seu amor e o menino chorão | I have a singing canary, A tuned Berimbau and an incorrigible horse And the caring of a lovely woman that has given me love and a crying baby |
| Ah! Meu Deus quando eu partir Desse mundo enganador Pra meu filho eu deixarei Uma coisa de valor, é é é. | Ah! My God when I'm gone From this treacherous world I leave to my children Only one thing of value |
| Não é dinheiro, não é ouro, não é prata. É um berimbau maneiro que eu ganhei do meu avô. | (It's) neither money, nor gold, nor silver. (but rather) a skill of berimbau that I learned from my grandfather. |
Não é dinheiro, não é ouro, não é prata. | (It's) neither money, nor gold, nor silver. |
| Ô, ô, ô, Meu berimbau que toca Iúna e benguela Toca paz, e toca guerra e toca até chula de amor. | (With) my berimbau playing (the tune of) Iúna and benguela Playing the tune of peace, the tune of war and plays full of love. |
Não e dinheiro, não e ouro, não e prata. | (It's) neither money, nor gold, nor silver. |
| Ah! Meu Deus quando eu partir Desse mundo enganador Pra meu filho eu deixarei Uma coisa de valor, é é é. | Ah! My God when I'm gone From this treacherous world I leave to my children Only one thing of value |
| Não é dinheiro, não é ouro, não é prata. É um berimbau maneiro que eu ganhei do meu avô. | (It's) neither money, nor gold, nor silver. (but rather) a skill of berimbau that I learned from my grandfather. |
Não é dinheiro, não é ouro, não é prata. | (It's) neither money, nor gold, nor silver. |