AlegriaPra cantar a batucadaAs morenas vão sambarQuem samba tem alegria!
Minha genteEra triste e amarguradaInventou a batucadaPra deixar de padecerSalve o prazer, salve o prazer!
Da tristeza não quero saberA tristeza me faz padecerVou deixar a cruel nostalgiaVou fazer batucada de noite e de diaVou sambar
Esperando a felicidadePara ver se eu vou melhorarVou cantando fingindo alegriaPara a humanidade não me ver chorar
HappinessTo sing according to the drumsThe brunette women will dance to itWho dances has happiness
My peopleWas sad and bitterIt created the drumsSo that it would stop perishingHail pleasure, hail pleasure!
I don't want to hear any sadnessSince it makes me perishI'll leave the crude nostalgiaI'll make some sound night and dayI'll dance to it
Waiting to happinessTo see if I'll get betterI'll sing, pretending to be happySo that mankind won't see me crying