Vou dizer a meu senhor, que a manteiga derramou (c) Vou dizer a meu senhor, que a manteiga derramou A manteiga não é minha, a manteiga é de ioiô (coro) A manteiga não é minha, é pra filha de ioiô (coro) A manteiga é do patrão, caiu na agua e se molhou (coro) A manteiga é de iaiá, a manteiga é de ioiô (coro) A manteiga é do patrão, caiu no chão e derramou (coro)
I'm going to tell my master, that the butter spilled I'm going to tell my master, that the butter spilled The butter is not mine, the butter belongs to the master's child The butter is not mine, it is for the master's daughter The boss' butter, fell in the water and got wet The butter belongs to the master's daughter, the butter belong's to the master's son The boss' butter, fell on the floor and spilled
Meaning and Interpretation:
iaiá / ioiô – affectionate terms for the master’s children
Simply, this song could be a representation of something that would commonly happen in the daily life of an enslaved person. They speak of some undesirable event occurring “the butter spilling”. It was common for slave owners to play games that would result in punishment for the enslaved individual. There have been references to this song talking about how it was game for the slave owners to require an enslaved person to deliver butter wrapped in banana leaves long distances. This was impossible to accomplish in the hot Brazilian climate without the butter melting and then punishment would ensue from spilling the butter.
Category: Capoeira songbook