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Editor's Note:

 

35 years ago this April 25th a small group of army officers and soldiers rose up against a totalitarian fascist regime that has ruled for half a century and practically without spilling any blood, destabilized and took control of the European nation of Portugal.  That coup d’etat, referred to since as the 'Carnation Revolution' handed to the populace a new governing structure that heralded democratic principles that still endure. 

                                               

The soldiers marked ‘zero hour’ for the commencement of hostilities, through a previously agreed to signal: it would be the radio broadcast, over the national radio station, of a song, ‘Grândola Vila Morena’ recorded by the widely known rebel troubadour Jose “Zeca” Afonso. 

 

The Vampires, is another of his compositions. You can listen to Zeca Afonso performing these very lyrics (in Portuguese), on YouTube (see below).

 

 

The Vampires,  by Zeca Afonso

 

In the gray sky below muted stars

Beating wings in a quieted night

Arrive bands with velvet feet

To suck fresh blood from the herds

                                                   

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                            

To all parts arrive the vampires

Landing on parapets and causeways

Bearing within them ancient spoils

But nothing binds them to those lives destroyed

                                                                        

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                                        

If anyone is mistaken by their air of sincerity

And openly unbars the doors at their arrival

                                                                        

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                                                  

 

Upon the soil of fear befall the vanquished

Hearing the screams in the hushed night

Lying in ditches the victims of a credo

While the herd’s blood is not emptied

                                                                 

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                                      

They are the stewards of the whole universe

Masters by force commanders without laws

Befill their granaries Drink the new wine

Dancing merrily in the King’s pine-grove

                                                                   

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                                   

If anyone is mistaken by their air of sincerity

And openly unbars the doors at their arrival

                                                                  

They take everything, they eat everything

They take everything and leave behind nothing

They eat everything, they take everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

                                                                      

They take everything, they eat everything

They eat everything and leave behind nothing

 

Who was Jose 'Zeca' Afonso? 

 

Translated from the Portuguese by Victor M. Saraiva

All Rights Reserved

 


Posted  April 23, 2009

URL:  www.thecitizenfsr.org                     SM 2000-2011 


 


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