Childhood memories with "João e Maria" in English

Today, I´ll post the English version I made for the song "João e Maria". The harmony was composed before the lyrics, by Sivuca, in 1947. Chico Buarque was asked to write lyrics to Sivuca´s melody in 1977. At that time, Chico was writing children´s themes. He says that, given he was a kid in 1947 and because of the children´s themes he used to write back then, he recalled of his young days. In October 12th, at least in Brazil, Children´s Day is celebrated. Hope this song brings back sweet memories to everyone. 

João e Maria

Chico Buarque e Sivuca

Agora eu era o herói
E o meu cavalo só falava inglês
A noiva do cowboy
Era você além das outras três.

Eu enfrentava os batalhões
Os alemães e seus canhões
Guardava o meu bodoque
E ensaiava um rock para as matinês.

Agora eu era o rei
Era o bedel e era também juiz
E pela minha lei
A gente era obrigado a ser feliz.

E você era a princesa
Que eu fiz coroar
E era tão linda de se admirar
Que andava nua pelo meu país.

Não, não fuja não
Finja que agora eu era o seu brinquedo
Eu era o seu pião
O seu bicho preferido.

Vem, me dê a mão
A gente agora já não tinha medo
No tempo da maldade
Acho que a gente nem tinha nascido.

Agora era fatal
Que o faz-de-conta terminasse assim
Pra lá deste quintal
Era uma noite que não tem mais fim.

Pois você sumiu no mundo

Sem me avisar
E agora eu era um louco a perguntar
O que é que a vida vai fazer de mim.

Hansel and Gretl

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

I´m the hero now

And my horse is always by my side

You´re my favorite gal

But the other ones don´t seem to mind

I fight away the enemies

Well, I´m a soldier, don´t you see?

Now my gun has turned

Into a mean guitar, I am the king of beat

Now, I´m the bravest knight

I´m a beadle, and a joyful king

The law that I made up

Enforces happiness as well as dreams

Oh, my dear, you are the princess

That became my Queen,

You look so pretty as you dress in pink

You´re like a flower blossom in the spring

Please, don´t run away

I can change into your favorite toy

I´m the prince you love

A teddy bear you once adored

Come, give me your hand

Fear is nothing but a really bad word

When the witches come

It´s the time we´ll be grown ups

Final chapter now

Happy endings aren´t quite as true

Outside the backyard

The sky turned black, it´s no longer blue

 Because you, my dearest love

Is now out of sight

Now I´m a madman and I don´t know why

You left without kissing me goodbye