Some songs I have posted about the US:
1939: Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit
1964: Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come
1965: Barry McGuire: Eve of Destruction
1968: Dion: Abraham, Martin and John
1969: Jimi Hendrix: The Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock.
1977: The Eagles: The Last Resort
1977: Schoolhouse Rock!: The Great American Melting Pot
1981: Neil Diamond: America
1984: Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A.
1985: Kurtis Blow: America
2018: Childish Gambino: This Is America
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James Earl Jones reads the most famous part of Frederick Douglass’s speech given on July 5th 1852.
The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4th 1776, said all men were created equal, but the war only freed White Protestant men of property. US history since then can be read as the slow, uncertain liberation of everyone else. When Douglass spoke most Black people were still slaves. They were freed in 1865, what Juneteenth celebrates. But even today in 2026 Blacks are still second-class citizens and are getting more second-class by the day under the current Supreme Court. We are living through a second nadir of race relations in the US.
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Remarks:
This came out in 1976 reaching #3 on the US R&B chart and the top-40 on pop charts throughout the Anglosphere. It is one of those songs that I assumed I had already posted. I especially love the long version (posted above) where the violins come in at the 4:31 mark.
See also:
Lyrics:
Heaven must be missing an angel
Missing one angel, child, ’cause you’re here with me right now
(Your love is heavenly, baby)
(Heavenly to me, baby)
Your kiss, filled with tenderness
I want all I can get of your sexiness
Showers, your love comes in showers
And every hour on the hour
You let me feel your loving power
There’s a rainbow over my shoulder (ooh, ooh)
When you came, my cup runneth over (ooh, ooh)
You gave me your heavenly love
And if one night you hear crying from above
It’s ’cause heaven must be missing an angel
Missing one angel, child, ’cause you’re here with me right now
(Your love is heavenly, baby)
(Heavenly to me, baby)
Ooh (heaven, heaven)
Ooh (heaven, heaven)
Ooh (heaven, heaven)
(Heaven, heaven)
Ooh, I’m captured by your spell (ooh, ooh)
You’re different, girl, I can tell (ooh, ooh)
When you’re laying on my pillow, baby
Above your pretty head, there’s a halo, that’s why I know
(Heaven) must be missing an angel
(Heaven) missing one angel, child, ’cause you’re here with me right now, mmm, ha
(Your love is heavenly, baby)
(Heavenly to me, baby)
Ooh, my sweet little angel
(Heaven) my pretty little angel
(Heaven) I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, baby, say right now
(Heaven)
(Heaven) ooh, heaven
(Heaven, heaven) must be missing an angel
(Heaven, heaven) missing one angel, child, ’cause you’re here with me right now
(Heaven, heaven) oh, my heaven
(Heaven) missing an angel
(Heaven)
(Heaven)
(Heaven)
You must have slipped away along the Milky Way
It’s ’cause (your kiss) your kiss (filled with tenderness)
You came C.O.D. on a moonbeam straight to me
Just like (showers) showers (showers, showers, showers)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Your heavenly power gets stronger by the hour
(Heaven must be missing an angel)
I’m captured by your spell, oh, girl, can’t you tell
(Heaven) heaven (must be missing an angel)
(Heaven, heaven) Ooh, ooh
(Heaven, heaven) Ooh, ooh
(Heaven, heaven) Ooh, ooh
(Heaven, heaven) ooh say so-so good, say so-so good, say so-so good, baby, mmm
(It’s just so good, so good, so good) yeah
(It’s just so good, so good, so good) I love the way you move
I love the way you groove
(It’s just so good, so good, so good) ooh
(It’s just so good, so good, so good) Just like heaven, oh, baby
(It’s just so good, so good, so good) Heaven, yeah
(Heaven, heaven)
(Heaven, heaven) ooh, heaven
(Heaven, heaven) ooh, your love is so good
(Heaven, heaven) oh, baby, got to have your love, yeah
(Heaven, heaven) need it bad, Lord, baby, yeah
(Heaven, heaven) I got to have your love, yeah
(Heaven, heaven) [?] Sit down, sit down, sit right down[?]
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
Aged British rocker Roger Waters of Pink Floyd and Palestinian singer Mona Miari reimagine “Comfortably Numb” from Pink Floyd’s album “The Wall” (1979). They flip a song of personal despair into one of hope for Gaza, which plays itself in the video in all of its bombed-out, betented horror. The Arabic parts of the song have English subtitles in the video. As noted in this space before, Waters lost his father to war.
Note that YouTube currently interrupts the song with ads – something it does not do to the original song.
There is a ceasefire in Gaza, meaning that Israel is killing hundreds instead of thousands.
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Remarks:
This is my favourite Cher song not counting “I Got You Babe” (1965). It went to #1 on the US pop chart in 1974. She did not have another number-one hit till 24 years later – “Believe” (1998). That must be some kind of record. The video above comes from 1973 when she sang it on “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” (1971-74).
Cher in 1991:
‘Dark Lady’ was a pain in the ass because there was no place to take a breath – there were so many words in that stupid song!”
She turned 80 on May 20th. Today President Trump turns 80.
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Lyrics:
The fortune queen of New Orleans
Was brushing her cat in her black limousine
On the backseat were scratches from
The marks of men her fortune she had won
Couldn’t see through the tinted glass
She said, “Home James” and he hit the gas
I followed her to some darkened room
She took my money, she said “I’ll be with you soon”
Dark lady laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one
Danced to her gypsy music till her brew was done
Dark lady played back magic till the clock struck on the twelve
She told me more about me than I knew myself
She dealt two cards, a queen and a three
And mumbled some words that were so strange to me
Then she turned up a two-eyed jack
My eyes saw red but the card still stayed black
She said the man you love is secretly true
To someone else who is very close to you
My advice is that you leave this place
Never come back and forget you ever saw my face
Dark lady laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one
Danced to her gypsy music till her brew was done
Dark lady played back magic till the clock struck on the twelve
She told me more about me than I knew myself
So I ran home and crawled in my bed
I couldn’t sleep because of all the things she said
Then I remembered her strange perfume
And how I smelled it was in my own room
So I sneaked back and caught her with my man
Laughing and kissing till they saw the gun in my hand
The next thing I knew they were dead on the floor
Dark lady would never turn a card up anymore
Dark lady laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one
Danced to her gypsy music till her brew was done
Dark lady played back magic till the clock struck on the twelve
Source: Songfacts.
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Remarks:
Wow, they hardly ever make songs like this anymore. It is, by far, my favourite Olivia Dean song – so far. It is not her best known song, but after nine months it has already reached the top-40 on pop charts across the Anglosphere. It is based on a sample from a 1971 song, “We Had True Love” by Hot Chocolate (the US band, not the UK band of the same name famous for “You Sexy Things” (1975)).
See also:
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Turn around
Since when are you smoking now?
It’s been a while
Let me know, mm
Like did you end up moving house?
You’re the only one who knows that name
You’re the only one that does that face
I just wanna know if you’re okay
Only have a couple minutes, it already kinda feels like
[Chorus]
Back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life
[Verse 2]
I guess we found a silver lining
I’m glad you’re doing so well
If only you could see how I’ve been
If I’m being real, no, it ain’t been the same
We could talk (Mm) if we want now (Mm)
Already know it’s no good for me
It’s alright, think I’m fine with the silence
There’s some good in goodbyes
[Chorus]
Oh, I’m back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life
[Post-Chorus]
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be (Ooh)
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
[Outro]
Oh-oh, hey
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life
Oh-oh, hey
Have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This came out in the summer of 1970, reaching the top 3 on pop charts throughout the Anglosphere.
It is one of those sad songs that sound happy. Because Cracklin’ Rosie is not a real woman. She is “a store-bought woman”, “a poor man’s lady” – a bottle of wine. Cracklin’ Rosé was a brand of cheap rosé wine popular in northern Canada among lonely men on Indian reservations where there were not enough women. The wine became their woman.
This was not his first song about wine. “Red, Red Wine” (1983) of UB40 fame was written by him in 1967. Nor was “Cracklin’ Rosie” his first number-one hit in the US: he also wrote “I’m a Believer” (1966), taken to number-one by the Monkees, a made-for-TV rock band.
The Wrecking Crew, the band of LA session musicians that plays on the song, has appeared in this space at least twice before: on “Be My Baby” (1963) by the Ronettes and on “I Got You Babe” (1965) by Sonny and Cher. They were the real band behind the Monkees on “I’m a Believer”.
See also:
Lyrics:
Aw, Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board
We’re gonna ride
Till there ain’t no more to go
Taking it slow
And Lord, don’t you know
We’ll have me a time with a poor man’s lady
Hitchin’ on a twilight train
Ain’t nothing here that I care to take along
Maybe a song
To sing when I want
No need to say please to no man
For a happy tune
Oh, I love my Rosie child
You got the way to make me happy
You and me we go in style
Cracklin’ Rose
You’re a store-bought woman
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin’
So hang on to me, girl
Our song keeps runnin’ on
Play it now, play it now
Play it now, my baby
Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile
Girl, if it lasts for an hour, that’s all right
We got all night to set the world right
Find us a dream that don’t ask no questions
Yeah
Oh, I love my Rosie child
You got the way to make me happy
You and me we go in style
Cracklin’ Rose
You’re a store-bought woman
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin’
So hang on to me, girl
Our song keeps runnin’ on
Play it now, play it now
Play it now, my baby
Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile
Girl, if it lasts for an hour, that’s all right
We got all night
To set the world right
Find us a dream that don’t ask no questions
Ba ba ba ba ba ……
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This came out in 1983 and it is still a great song. And it is not just me: right now, on May 24th 2026, it is the number one song in the whole world according to Billboard’s Global 200. The video above has been seen over 2 billion times! Baby Shark watch out!
See also:
Lyrics:
[1st verse]
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
She said I am the one who will dance on the floor in the round
[2nd verse]
She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
[Bridge]
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth
[Chorus]
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
[3rd verse]
For forty days and forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand when she’s in demand
Her schemes and plans
’cause we danced on the floor in the round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(do think twice.)
[4th verse]
She told my baby we’d danced ’til three
Then she looked at me
She showed a photo of a baby crying
His eyes looked like mine
Go on dance on the floor in the round, baby
[Bridge]
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
She came and stood right by me
Then the smell of sweet perfume
This happened much too soon
She called me to her room
[Chorus]
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, she says he is my son
She says I am the one
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Sources: A-Z Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This may be the first time I have posted a country music song, but it is not the first time in this space that someone got their heart broke at a Texas honky-tonk. This song came out in 2025, conquering the country charts and then, in 2026, the pop chart, where it has been number one in the US off and on since February. In fact, it has gone to #1 throughout the Anglosphere except for the UK, where (so far) it has only reached #13.
See also:
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms
I wasn’t a match for that kind of spark
[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
[Verse 2]
Well, I guess he forgot about the Smoky Mountain rain
Them old Hank tunes, the Memphis blues we used to sing
He always loved “Amarillo by Morning”
I should’ve taken that as a warnin’
[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
[Bridge]
When I’m eastbound and down, and I can’t help but cry
‘Cause I-40 gets lonelier with every mile
I’ll know that his mind wasn’t ever gonna change
‘Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State
[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do, naw, yeah
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell, no
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
[Outro]
Come on, baby
Oh yeah
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This came out in France in 1966. It is my new favourite Françoise Hardy song! It is Mina’s “Se Telfonando” (1966) but with considerably different lyrics: a break-up song became a I-will-follow-your-anywhere song! Does anyone still write songs like that anymore?
Miss Hardy did sing it in English – she was fluent in English – but I find that version unlistenable.
See also:
Lyrics:
La vie n’est pas un seul garçon
Un seul visage à aimer
La vie n’est pas une seule passion
Pour toujours, allumée
Il faut de tout pour faire un coeur
Et bien peu, pour le défaire
Mais pourtant devant toi, j’ai peur
J’oublie les leçons d’hier
Je changerais d’avis
Ce qu’il faut penser
Au fond je sais, que le l’oublierais
Je changerais de vie
Si tu le voulais
Au fond je sais, que je te suivrais
Je changerais d’amis
Si tu y tenais
Tout mon passé, je le quitterais
Si tu m’aimais aussi
Je sais que je pourrais tout laisser
Et tout recommencer
Je changerais d’avis
Et je me dirais que jusqu’à toi
Je m’étais trompée
Je changerais de vie
Sans me demander où je m’en vais
Si tu m’emmenais
S’il n’y avait qu’une chance
Une sur des milliers pour te garder
Moi je la prendrais
Et tant pis si c’est fou
J’aurais envie de tout avec toi
Si tu pouvais m’aimer
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This is a song from Puccini’s opera “Gianni Schicchi” (1918). It is easily my new favourite Italian song. By far. Replacing “Con te partirò” (1995) by Andrea Bocelli. This song made even a non-opera buff like me want to cry. And that was before I understood what it was about. !!! Then it became even sadder and even more powerful.
See also:
Lyrics:
O mio babbino caro
Mi piace, è bello, bello
Vo’ andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l’anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
E se l’amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Source: letras.mus.br.
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Remarks:
This is easily my favourite song from Iran. It mocks Donald Trump, the US president, after making war on Iran and criticizing the pope while seeming to compare himself to Jesus in an AI-generated picture:
Trump says he is just a doctor in that picture – but quickly took it down.
Compare it to an actual picture of Jesus:
In Scripture, Jesus heals with a touch. Doctors do not.
See also:
Lyrics:
Fake Jesus. Fake Jesus.
You put on the robe and the glowing light.
Pretending to heal while you start the fight.
I ran on his Jesus.
The pure and the truth.
You mock the faith.
What a shame from you.
You attack the pope calling him weak and confusing.
And drop that AI pic like you’re the one who’s been chosen.
White robe shining hands healing the man.
While your bombs fall on our children in Iran.
The pope stands tall.
Says he’s not afraid of you.
You keep playing saviour like the whole world is fooled.
You think you’re holy?
Nah, you’re just a clown pretending to be Christ while you tear the world down.
Fake Jesus. Fake Jesus.
If you put on the robe in the glowing light,
pretending to heal while you start the fight.
I ran on his Jesus, the pure and the true.
You mock the faith.
What a shame from you.
In Iran we respect Jesus, the Messiah, the light, a prophet of mercy.
A message so bright.
You twisted for clout, turn it into a meme while you push for more war and more suffering.
And you act like the Chosen, but the signs are all wrong.
Playing Antichrist games while the real one stay strong.
You delete the post quick when the backlash gets loud.
But we see the truth.
You’re just another fraud.
Sacred defence.
We honour the real one.
We faking it for clout.
Yeah.
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Remarks:
An Irving Berlin song about Hitler from 1941 that has been covered many times – and is still be covered. This recording by Glenn Miller is from February 19th 1941 – ten months before the US entered the war.
See also:
Lyrics:
Satan, Satan, caught up a plan
Dressed as a man
Walkin the Earth, and since he began
The world is hell for you and me
But what a heaven it will be
When that man is dead and gone
When that man is dead and gone
We’ll go dancin down the street
Kissin everyone we meet
When that man is dead and gone…
What a day to wake upon
What a way to greet the dawn
Some fine day the news will flash
“Satan with a small mustache
Is asleep beneath the lawn”
When that man is dead and gone…
What a lucky day to wake upon
What a happy way to greet the dawn
Some fine day the news will flash
“Satan with a small mustache
Is asleep beneath the lawn”
When that man is dead and gone
When that certain man is dead and gone, gone, gone
When that man is
Dead —
And —
Gone!!!
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This combines the music of “Can You Feel It” (1981) by the Jacksons and the words of “Wanna Drop a House” (1996) of Urban Discharge, creating something better than either! It came out of Italy in 1998 and was a hit across Europe (#2), the UK (#1), and the Antipodes (a gold record in both Australia and New Zealand), but in Maya’s native US it did not even break the top #100 (though it did go to #4 in dance clubs).
I definitely remember this song because I misheard the main line as:
“What she’s gonna look like with a chimney on her?”
But now, thanks to the Internet, I can finally know what the words really were:
“What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?”
Huh? I had heard the words just fine! It was the words themselves that were mysterious. It was popular in the UK at the very same time as the equally mysterious “Brimful of Asha”. Maybe being mysterious was the point.
According to Genius Lyrics:
“Turns out that ‘chimney’ is a Northern Irish slang term for a black eye.”
If you lived in parts of the UK, the song made perfect sense. But that was an accident. The band is Italian, not Irish, and the singer herself, Maya Days, is from the US.
The line it replaces in “Gonna Drop a House” is:
“Wanna drop the house on that bitch”.
The reference is to Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz” dropping a house on a witch.
According to Maya Days herself, “with a chimney on her” was an ad-libbed extension of that, added by one of the Tamperers. They liked it so much it wound up taking over the whole song. The fact that “chimney” also meant a black eye (as they found out later) and fits the lyrics perfectly was a brilliant stroke of luck.
See also:
Lyrics:
[Verse 1: Maya]
You got it on the side
A little one-night thing
I thought it over and this time I will forgive you
Well I’m not letting go
But don’t forget I know
You made your bed and she was in it, no no no
[Chorus]
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
[Verse 2]
Well I’m not blaming you
But she’s still hanging around
And she’s so crazy, tell ya now I just don’t trust her
She thinks she’s right on time
But I think she crossed the line
And I’m ready for the ride, I’m ready if it’s fighting time
[Chorus]
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
Source: Genius Lyrics.
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Remarks:
This is an Easter song from Brazil in 2004. Cristina Mel is from Rio de Janeiro. She sings Christian Contemporary Music in Portuguese, Spanish and English. In the 2000s she was nominated for a Grammy Latino four times. The bee seems to be a play on her last name Mel, which means honey.
“Páscoa” means Easter, which the song spells out, giving a meaning for each letter. For example:
C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu
“C is for Christ, the way to heaven.”
See also:
Lyrics:
Páscoa! Páscoa! Páscoa!
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
P de passagem
A de amor
S de Senhor e Salvador
C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu
O de Orientador
A de alegria, amizade e amor
Quando Jesus Cristo, Sua vida entregou
A minha Páscoa bem mais doce se tornou
Morreu na cruz, foi assim que me salvou
Mas no terceiro dia ressuscitou!
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
P de passagem
A de amor
S de Senhor e Salvador
C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu
O de Orientador
A de alegria, amizade e amor
Quando Jesus Cristo, Sua vida entregou
A minha Páscoa bem mais doce se tornou
Morreu na cruz, foi assim que me salvou
Mas no terceiro dia ressuscitou!
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa!
Source: letras.mus.br.
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Abagond 