Here comes the big black man: Lá vem o negão

Here comes the big black man is one of two major ancient Brazilian epic poems attributed to Cravo e Canela. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon. Indeed it is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature. It was probably composed near the end of the twentieth century AC, somewhere in Bahia.

The poem mainly centers on the Brazilian hero Big Black Man (or Negão, as he was known in local myths) and his long journey home.

Here comes de big black man
Full of passion
Pick you up Pick you up Pick you up
Wanting to win all the little girls
Not even the old ones he forgives, no
Sniffed on the neck of the pretty brown girl
Pick you up Pick you up Pick you up
Little blonde girl who have been sniffed by the big black man
Is a problem
Little blonde who have been sniffed by the big black man
Is a problem

If nobody knew how to love you
You can prepare yourself, the salvation has arrived
Just happyness, you can dress up
That the big black man has arrived

But if you are compromised
Is better not to fail
A look, a smile is enough
For the big black man to pick you

Here comes de big black man
Full of passion
Pick you up Pick you up Pick you up
Wanting to win all the little girls
Not even the old ones he forgives, no
Sniffed on the neck of the pretty brown girl
Pick you up Pick you up Pick you up
Little blonde who have been sniffed by the big black man
Is a problem
Little blonde girl who have been sniffed by the big black man
Is a problem

Come, big black man, come fast
It is women to scream
Come, big black man, now is the time
Let's lay down and roll

In the beach, in the street, in the supermarket
In the fair is the biggest joy
The little girls come rebraking
To be with this big black man