Tiro ao Álvaro

"Tiro ao Álvaro" is a samba song composed in 1960 by Italian-Brazilian composer and singer Adoniran Barbosa (real name João Rubinato). In his style of the "paulista" samba, it has humorous lyrics written in poor Portuguese language of the São Paulo city's poor suburbs with Italian immigrants.

Lyrics

Original De tanto levar frechada do teu olhar Meu peito até parece sabe o quê? Táuba de tiro ao álvaro Não tem mais onde furar Táuba de tiro ao álvaro Não tem mais onde furar Teu olhar mata mais Do que bala de carabina Que veneno estriquinina que peixeira de baiano Teu olhar mata mais Do que atropelamento de automóvel Mata mais que bala de revólver

Free translation After so many arrow shots from you eyes My breast looks like you know what? A target's practice board Which can take no more holes A target's practice board Which can take no more holes Your looks kill more Than a carbine's bullet More than strychnine poison More than a "Baiano"'s knife Your looks kill more Than an automobile running over me Kills more than the bullet of a gun

Note: The Portuguese lyrics contain many dialetal features that would be considered serious errors according to the official language norm. Unfortunately these features are lost in the English translation.

ee also

* Trem das Onze
* Samba Italiano
* Samba do Arnesto