Nursery Rhymes›Nana Neném
With Anna · Brazil

Nana Neném / Boi da Cara Preta

Key: Am~58 BPMGuitar & Piano chords

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Two of Brazil’s best-loved lullabies, often sung together — soft, soothing melodies wrapped around playful warnings about the mythical Cuca and a black-faced ox, in a beloved tradition of gently teasing a child toward sleep.

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Verse 1

Am         Dm      Am
Nana, nana, nenê,
Dm         Am      E7
que a cuca vai pegar.
(Sleep, sleep, baby – or the Cuca will come and get you.)
Am         Dm      Am
Sleep now, sleep now, little one,
Dm         Am      E7
or the Cuca’s coming near!

Verse 2

Am         Dm      Am
Boi, boi, boi,
Dm         Am      E7
boi da cara preta.
(Ox, ox, ox – the black-faced ox.)
Am         Dm      Am
Mama’s gone out to the fields,
Dm         Am      E7
papa’s gone to work today.
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E7
Guitar
EGB
Piano
Good to know

What this song means

Nana Neném and Boi da Cara Preta are two of the most widely recognized lullabies in Brazil, often sung back to back. Despite their sweet, rocking melodies, both playfully invoke folklore figures — the Cuca, a shape-shifting creature from Brazilian legend, and a black-faced ox — in a long tradition of gently coaxing children toward sleep with a little friendly mischief.

Traditional Brazilian lullabies, passed down through oral tradition. The English lines here are a singable adaptation for this arrangement, offered as a respectful tribute — not a literal translation.

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