Lyrics & Translation
Explore Brazilian hip-hop with Oruam's "Mainstreet," a track that dives into the realities of life in Rio's favelas. Learn about the blend of hip-hop, trap, and funk that defines Oruam's unique sound, and understand how his music serves as a platform for social commentary and personal expression. Discover the debates around freedom of expression and censorship that Oruam's work often ignites, offering a glimpse into contemporary Brazilian culture and social issues.
Just to see if we get any attention
They judge me because I speak the truth
Like a son who's a bad influence
My heart is already broken
Trying to fix the mistakes of the past in the present
I've never been a leader, I'm just a soldier
Reckless and unprepared
I keep my pain locked inside
That I don't tell anyone
All my sins haunt me at night
And every dawn is another chance to start over
I'm gonna turn the tables
Man, without having to pick up a gun
We aced the school of life
Here, a child cries and their mother doesn't see
So many kids who know how to kill
Don't know how to read or write
A hard-to-reach place
Different vocabulary
The words I've learned aren't in the dictionary
My voice speaks for the people
I do much more than I should
If I'm suffering, I fight even if I die
The kid was raised in hardship
If what we have to offer isn't worth anything
Then tell me why we're even here
If they're just going to use us and then kill us
Discard us, that's not right
With poverty in our eyes and a contagious smile
You wouldn't last a day in the favela
We had nothing, we came from the trash
We're the villain in your favorite movie
We're gonna set the city on fire
Just to see if we get any attention
I judge myself because I speak the truth
Like a son who's a bad influence
My heart is already broken
Trying to fix the mistakes of the past in the present
I've never been a leader, I'm just a soldier
Reckless and unprepared
I have some pain locked inside
That I don't tell anyone
All my sins haunt me at night
And every dawn is another chance to start over
I'm gonna turn the tables
Man, without having to pick up a gun
With poverty in our eyes and a contagious smile
You wouldn't last a day in the favela
We had nothing, we came from the trash
We're the villain in your favorite movie
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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fogo /ˈfoɡu/ A2 |
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cidade /siˈdadʒi/ A2 |
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atenção /ate(n)ˈsɐ̃w̃/ B1 |
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verdade /veɾˈdadʒi/ B1 |
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coração /koɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ A2 |
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quebrado /keˈbɾadu/ B1 |
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passado /pasaˈdu/ B1 |
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soldado /solˈdadʊ/ B1 |
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mágua /ˈmaɡuɐ/ B2 |
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pecados /pekaˈduʃ/ B2 |
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assombram /ɐsõˈbɾɐ̃/ B2 |
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recomeçar /ɾeku.meˈsaɾ/ B1 |
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virar /viˈɾaɾ/ A2 |
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pobreza /puˈbɾezɐ/ B2 |
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favela /faˈvelɐ/ B2 |
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vilão /viˈlɐ̃w̃/ B1 |
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lixo /ˈliʃu/ A2 |
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🚀 "fogo", "cidade" – from “Mainstreet” still a mystery?
Learn trendy vocab – vibe with music, get the meaning, and use it right away without sounding awkward!
Key Grammar Structures
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Nós vai tacar fogo na cidade
➔ Colloquial use of 'vai' as a future auxiliary
➔ In standard Portuguese, the future tense is typically formed with 'ir' + infinitive (e.g., 'Nós iremos' or 'Nós vamos tacar'). The use of 'vai' here is a common informal variation.
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Me julgam porque falo a verdade
➔ Pronoun placement (proclisis)
➔ The direct object pronoun 'me' is placed before the verb 'julgam'. This is called proclisis and is common in informal Portuguese, especially when the verb is preceded by certain words or in certain grammatical constructions.
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Acertar no presente os erros do passado
➔ Verb in imperative mood (implied)
➔ Although 'Acertar' is in the infinitive, the sentence structure implies a command or strong suggestion: 'One should try to fix...'. This is a common way to express advice or intention in a poetic context.
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Todos os meus pecados me assombram de noite
➔ Use of definite article 'os' with possessive 'meus'
➔ In Portuguese, it's common to use the definite article before possessive pronouns when they modify a noun. 'Todos os meus pecados' translates to 'All of my sins'.
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E todo amanhecer é mais uma chance de recomeçar
➔ Metaphor and personification
➔ The dawn ('amanhecer') is presented as an opportunity ('chance') to restart. This is a metaphorical way of saying that each new day offers a fresh start.
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Eu vou fazer o jogo virar
➔ Idiomatic expression
➔ 'Fazer o jogo virar' is an idiom that means to turn the situation around, to change one's fortune, or to win when previously losing.
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Mano, sem ter que pegar na pistola
➔ Figurative language and ellipsis
➔ 'Mano' is slang for 'brother'. 'Sem ter que pegar na pistola' literally means 'without having to pick up the pistol'. It's used figuratively to mean achieving success or making changes without resorting to violence.
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Aqui o filho chora e a mãe não vê
➔ Proverbial expression and idiomatic usage
➔ This is a common Portuguese proverb that means that suffering or problems go unnoticed or are ignored by those who should be aware or offer help.
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Nós é o vilão do seu filminho preferido
➔ Use of 'é' as a copula and informal pronoun usage
➔ 'Nós é...' is an informal grammatical construction. Standard Portuguese would use 'Nós somos...'. It asserts identity and frames themselves as antagonists in a perceived narrative.
