Canoas Do Tejo
Carlos do Carmo Lyrics

Carlos do Carmo's "Canoas do Tejo" is a beautiful and poetic song that captures the essence of the Tagus River, Lisbon's main river. The lyrics are romantic and melancholic, reminiscing about old times when sailing canoes were the main transportation for people and goods along the river. The song speaks to the canoes as if they were alive, with a character and a soul of their own, and it evokes the feeling of time passing by and the river being witness to many stories.

The song starts with the image of a canoe sailing with its sail raised, coming from the Ribeira Dock, looking for a mate. The verses are beautiful metaphors that describe the emptiness and longing of the lost seagull. The Tagus river is painted as a magical place with the wind blowing in the rocks, the sun shining like a strawberry, and the waves dancing a fandango. The chorus repeats, asking the canoe if it knows how many docks and walls Lisbon has and warning it that if it collides with another boat, it will never return to the pier again.

The second stanza describes a canoe sailing from the bar mouth with a gentle breeze carrying the mournful cries of a guitar. The captain is asleep, and the sail is down, so the canoe moves quietly, and care is taken not to wake the sea. Again, the chorus repeats the warnings, and the verses end with the insistence that if the canoe were to be hit, it would be lost forever.

Carlos do Carmo's "Canoas do Tejo" is not only a song but also an ode to the Tagus River and the city of Lisbon. The lyrics and the melody perfectly capture the essence of the river and the melancholic atmosphere of the place. The song has become a symbol of Portuguese music and culture, and it is a favorite of many Portuguese people around the world.