Mora Iemanjá
also sung as “Rainha do Mar”, “No mar mora Iemanjá”
Iemanjá lives in the sea: the tears of enslaved Africans touched her heart, and she could turn the slave ship back to Guinea.
Draft translation The English is a first pass and hasn't been checked yet — corrections welcome.
Solo
Quando a maré baixarWhen the tide goes out
Vá lhe visitarGo and visit her
Vá lhe fazer devoçãoGo and pay her devotion
Vá lhe presentearGo and bring her gifts
No mar, mora Iemanjá (x3)In the sea lives Iemanjá
Vários negros foram pro BrasilMany Black people were taken to Brazil
Bantos, nagôs e iorubásBantu, Nagô and Yoruba
Dentro do navio negreiroInside the slave ship
Deixaram suas lágrimas correr no marThey let their tears run into the sea
No mar, mora Iemanjá (x3)In the sea lives Iemanjá
Sua lágrima que correu no marTheir tears that ran into the sea
Tocou no peito de IemanjáTouched the heart of Iemanjá
Ela podia mudar a maréShe could change the tide
Fazer meu navio voltar pra GuinéAnd make my ship sail back to Guinea
No mar, mora Iemanjá (x3)In the sea lives Iemanjá