The Wheel of Life

Taking Inspiration from Roda Viva

For my 2019 Open Studios, I am creating a mural in my studio inspired by the song Roda Viva by Brazilian artist Chico Buarque. Recorded in 1967, the song is about how the “wheel of life” can suddenly turn and carry our world away. Roda Viva is considered one of the greatest Brazilian Popular Music songs of all time and, at the time it was recorded, was a subversive protest against the military dictatorship that came to power in Brazil in the 1960s in a coup against the democratically elected government.

The title of the song, Roda Viva, can be translated as “wheel of life” or “living wheel” but is also an expression in Portuguese meaning restless movement and turmoil. In the song, “roda-viva” is understood as a reference to the Brazilian dictatorship and the lyrics describe the impact the “wheel of life” had on the democratic destiny of Brazilians, freedom of expression and socialist ideals.

The verses contain many metaphors and Brazilian cultural references, making direct translation challenging, but below is my translation after various other translations I found on the internet

Lyrics of Roda Viva by Chico Buarque

Tem dias que a gente se sente Como quem partiu ou morreu A gente estancou de repente Ou foi o mundo então que cresceu? A gente quer ter voz ativa No nosso destino mandar Mas eis que chega a roda-viva E carrega o destino pra lá Roda mundo, roda-gigante Rodamoinho, roda pião O tempo rodou num instante Nas voltas do meu coração A gente vai contra a corrente Até não poder resistir Na volta do barco é que sente O quanto deixou de cumprir Faz tempo que a gente cultiva A mais linda roseira que há Mas eis que chega a roda-viva E carrega a roseira pra lá Roda mundo, roda-gigante Rodamoinho, roda pião O tempo rodou num instante Nas voltas do meu coração A roda da saia, a mulata Não quer mais rodar, não senhor Não posso fazer serenata A roda de samba acabou A gente toma a iniciativa Viola na rua, a cantar Mas eis que chega a roda-viva E carrega a viola pra lá Roda mundo, roda-gigante Rodamoinho, roda pião O tempo rodou num instante Nas voltas do meu coração O samba, a viola, a roseira Um dia a fogueira queimou Foi tudo ilusão passageira Que a brisa primeira levou No peito a saudade cativa Faz força pro tempo parar Mas eis que chega a roda-viva E carrega a saudade pra lá Roda mundo, roda-gigante Rodamoinho, roda pião O tempo rodou num instante Nas voltas do meu coração

There are days that we feel Like those who went away or died Did we suddenly stop Or was it the world that grew? We want to have a say Make our own destiny But then arrives the wheel of life And carries destiny away Spinning world, ferris wheel Whirlwind, spinning top Time turned in an instant In the turns of my heart We go against the tide Until we cannot resist In the turn of the boat, we feel How much we have left to do For such a long time we cultivate The most beautiful rose bush there is But then arrives the wheel of life And carries the rosebush away Spinning world, ferris wheel Whirlwind, spinning top Time turned in an instant In the turns of my heart The turn of the skirt, the mulata Doesn’t want to turn any more, no sir I am not able to serenade The samba circle has ended We take the initiative Guitar in the street, singing But then arrives the wheel of life And carries the guitar away Spinning world, ferris wheel Whirlwind, spinning top Time turned in an instant In the turns of my heart The samba, the guitar, the rosebush One day the fire burned It was all a passing illusion That the first breeze carried away In our hearts our longing is captured Pushing hard to stop time But then arrives the wheel of life And carries the longing away Spinning world, ferris wheel Whirlwind, spinning top Time turned in an instant In the turns of my heart