Foi na Praça Sete que a polícia me parou
Foi na Praça Sete que a polícia me parou
Para, para, para, para, para, para seu moço
Para, para, para, Para, para, para seu moço
Seu Guarda entrou na roda
Eu vou jogar é com o Senhor
Seu Guarda entrou na roda
Eu vou jogar é com o Senhor
Para, para, para, para, para, para seu moço
Para, para, para, Para, para, para seu moço
No meio da Praça Sete a polícia me levou
No meio da Praça Sete a polícia me levou
Para, para, para, para, para, para seu moço
Para, para, para, Para, para, para seu moço
No meio da confusão a polícia me levou
No meio da confusão a polícia me levou
Para, para, para, para, para, para seu moço
Para, para, para, Para, para, para seu moço
It was on Praça Sete that the police stopped me
It was on Praça Sete that the police stopped me
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
The guard entered the roda
I will play it’s with the lord
The guard entered the roda
I will play it’s with the lord
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
In the middle of Praça Sete the police took me
In the middle of Praça Sete the police took me
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
In the middle of the confusion the police took me
In the middle of the confusion the police took me
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop you boy
Did you know?
Praça 7
- Praça 7 refers to Praça Sete de Setembro, a historic central square in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, deeply famous in capoeira folklore as a traditional battle ground and meeting place for street rodas.
- It is universally recognized through an iconic, classic capoeira song written by Mestre Dunga titled "Foi na Praça Sete," which captures the intense history of capoeira's criminalization.
- The famous lyrics tell the story of a capoeirista being stopped and arrested by the police right in the middle of a busy public space.
- Rather than backing down, the song dramatically captures the defiance of the capoeirista, who boldly invites the police officer to step directly into the roda and play a match.
- The catchphrase "Para, para, para seu moço" acts as a rhythmic call used by singers to drive the energy of the musicians and control the tension of the game.
- Today, Praça 7 remains an active cultural space where local groups regularly host vibrant street rodas, keeping the historical memory of street survival and resistance alive.