ERUDITS I 5
Geraldo Vandré
Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei Das Flores I 1968
So They Don't Say I Didn't Talk About the Flowers I 1968
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So They Don't Say I Didn't Talk About the Flowers
Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei Das FloresWalking and singing
Caminhando e cantando
And following the song
E seguindo a canção
We are all equal
Somos todos iguais
Given arms or not
Braços dados ou nãoAt the schools, in the streets
Nas escolas, nas ruas
Fields and construction sites
Campos, construções
Walking and singing
Caminhando e cantando
And following the song
E seguindo a cançãoCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerAcross the fields the starvation
Pelos campos, há fome
In big crops
Em grandes plantações
Across the streets marching
Pelas ruas, marchando
Wavering human cords
Indecisos cordõesThey still have in the flower
Ainda fazem da flor
Their strongest chorus
Seu mais forte refrão
And they believe in the flowers
E acreditam nas flores
To defeat the cannon
Vencendo o canhãoCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerThere are armed soldiers
Há soldados armados
Beloved or not
Amados ou não
Almost all of them lost
Quase todos perdidos
With guns on their hands
De armas na mãoIn the headquarters are taught
Nos quartéis lhes ensinam
To them an old lesson
Uma antiga lição
About to die for the homeland
De morrer pela pátria
And to live without a reason
E viver sem razãoCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerAt the schools, in the streets
Nas escolas, nas ruas
Fields and construction sites
Campos, construções
We are all soldiers
Somos todos soldados
Armed or not
Armados ou nãoWalking and singing
Caminhando e cantando
And following the song
E seguindo a canção
We are all equal
Somos todos iguais
Given arms or not
Braços dados ou nãoThe loves in mind
Os amores na mente
The flowers in the ground
As flores no chão
The certainty ahead
A certeza na frente
The history in the hand
A história na mãoWalking and singing
Caminhando e cantando
And following the song
E seguindo a canção
Learning and teaching
Aprendendo e ensinando
A new kind of lesson
Uma nova liçãoCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerCome on, let's go ahead
Vem, vamos embora
Waiting is not knowing
Que esperar não é saber
Who knows makes the hour
Quem sabe faz a hora
Does not wait it to happen
Não espera acontecerComposição: Geraldo Vandré.
Lyrics and Translation by letras
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The Voice of Resistance in Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores
The song Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores, also known as Caminhando ("Walking"), is one of Geraldo Vandré’s most iconic compositions and a symbol of resistance against the military dictatorship in Brazil (1964–1985). Released in 1968, at the height of the authoritarian regime, the song became an anthem of protest and hope for a generation yearning for freedom and democracy.
The lyrics are a call to action and unity. "Caminhando e cantando e seguindo a canção" ("Walking and singing and following the song") suggests a collective march, where music becomes the bond that unites people in pursuit of a common goal. The line "Quem sabe faz a hora, não espera acontecer" ("Those who know make the moment, they don’t wait for it to happen") is a powerful appeal for proactive engagement, urging listeners to become agents of change rather than passive witnesses to history. The reference to "flowers overcoming the cannon" is a striking metaphor of nonviolence and the symbolic strength of peaceful resistance in contrast to the brutality of weapons.
The song also addresses the alienation of soldiers ("There are armed soldiers, loved or not, almost all lost, with weapons in hand"), who are taught to die for the homeland without questioning why—reflecting a critique of extreme nationalism and the manipulation of the military. Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores is thus a landmark of Brazilian protest music that transcended its era and continues to remind us of the enduring importance of the fight for fundamental rights and freedoms.
By Jonas e Rebeca and other, letras -
The Flower Revolution: A Song of Protest and Hope
The song Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores, as performed by Simone, is an anthem of resistance and hope that left a lasting mark on Brazilian history during the military dictatorship. Written by Geraldo Vandré, the song became a symbol of protest against the repression and censorship imposed by the authoritarian regime. Its lyrics are a call to action, encouraging people to unite and fight for a better future, rather than passively waiting for change to come.
The repeated line "Caminhando e cantando e seguindo a canção" ("Walking and singing and following the song") suggests that the struggle for freedom and justice is ongoing and collective. The recurring image of flowers in the lyrics serves as a metaphor for peaceful resistance and the hope that beauty and life will prevail over violence and oppression. The phrase "they still make the flower their strongest refrain" reinforces the belief that peace and solidarity are powerful weapons against tyranny.
Another striking aspect of the song is its critique of military institutions and the indoctrination of soldiers, who are taught to die for the nation without questioning the reasons behind their actions. The song also emphasizes the importance of education and popular unity in building a more just and equal society. The core message of Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores is clear: change depends on the conscious, collective action of the people — not on waiting for things to change on their own.
By Rafaella and other, letras
THE ALBUM SONG, single frame film
THE ALBUM SONG, visualized as an anthem of protest and resistance
LIVE VERSION OF THE SONG, performed by Simone, 1979
“Simone first released her rendition of Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores in 1980 as part of her live album Simone ao Vivo, recorded at the Canecão theater in Rio de Janeiro. This performance marked the first time the song was publicly performed by another artist after years of censorship during Brazil's military dictatorship. Simone's interpretation played a significant role in reintroducing the song to the public and solidifying its status as a symbol of peaceful resistance and hope.” (discogs.com)
LIVE VERSION OF THE SONG, performed by Simone, 1982
“On February 7, 1982, Simone sang "Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei de Flores", by Geraldo Vandré, during the show Canta Brasil, held at Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo and broadcast by TV Globo. An audience of around 100,000 people sang along with her, and emotion swept through the crowd. Amid tears and a choked voice, Simone moved the audience to a frenzy, and by the end of the song, her name echoed throughout the stadium, cementing her status as one of the greatest singers in the country.”
LIVE VERSION OF THE SONG, performed by Simone, 1985, TV-Argentina