Capoeira Song of the Week: Ai Ai Ai Ai, São Bento Me Chama

You submit the songs. We show you the lyrics, translation, and give some phonetic spelling to help your pronunciation.

The format works like this:

The lyrics in Portuguese are in bold

The phonetic spelling for pronunciation is in italics with the STRESSED SYLLABLES IN ALL CAPITALS with syllables se-pa-ra-ted by dash-es

The English translation is in regular text

Thanks for the submission Risos.  Enjoy!

Ai Ai Ai Ai, São Bento Me Chama

Ai ai ai ai

Aye aye aye aye

Ai ai ai ai  (realisitically, this is used the way we weould say something like "oh man")

São Bento Me Chama

Sownh BEHN-tooh meeh SHAH-mah

Saint Benedict calls me

(coro/chorus)

Ai ai ai ai

Aye aye aye aye

Ai ai ai ai

São Bento Chamou

Sownh BEHN-tooh shah-MOH

Saint Benedict called

(coro/chorus)

Ai ai ai ai

Aye aye aye aye

Ai ai ai ai

Para jogar capoeira

PAH-rah zhoh-GAHRH kah-pooh-EY-rah

To play capoeira

(coro/chorus)

Ai ai ai ai

Aye aye aye aye

Ai ai ai ai

Com meu amor

Kohnh meh/ooh AH-mohrh

With my love

There are no shortages of solo lyrics for this song, so send us your favorites and we will put the best ones up!