On June 10, 1984, he was awarded posthumously Commander of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by former President of the Portuguese Republic, General Ramalho Eanes.
O Pajem
Alfredo Marceneiro Lyrics
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Com voz linda e maviosa
Ia render homenagem
Á Marquesinha formosa
Mas numa noite de agoiro
O Marquês fero e brutal
Naquela garganta de oiro
E a Marquesa delirante
De noite em seu varandim
Pobre louca alucinante
Chorando, cantava assim:
Oh minha paixão querida
Meu amor, meu pagem belo
Foge sempre minha vida
Deste maldito castelo
The song "O Pajem" by Alfredo Marceneiro tells a tragic story of unrequited love and jealousy. The lyrics describe a beautiful tradition where every night a young pageboy with a sweet voice comes to pay homage to the beautiful Marquesinha (a female marquess). However, on a fateful night, the ferocious Marquis, in a fit of jealousy, stabs the pageboy who had such a golden voice. The heartbroken and delusional Marquesa (the female marquis) sings and weeps on her balcony, asking her beloved pageboy to flee from the cursed castle where they both reside.
The song explores themes of forbidden love, jealousy, and tragedy which are all common in traditional Portuguese music. The beautiful melody adds a layer of poignancy to the story, highlighting the pain and heartbreak of the characters' situation. The song is a beautiful example of a fado, a Portuguese style of urban music that is usually melancholic, soulful, and features themes of longing and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Todas as noites um pagem
Every night a page boy
Com voz linda e maviosa
With a beautiful and melodious voice
Ia render homenagem
Went to pay homage
Á Marquesinha formosa
To the beautiful little Marquesa
Mas numa noite de agoiro
But on a fateful night
O Marquês fero e brutal
The ferocious and brutal Marquês
Naquela garganta de oiro
In that golden throat
Mandou cravar um punhal
Ordered a dagger to be plunged
E a Marquesa delirante
And the delirious Marquesa
De noite em seu varandim
At night on her balcony
Pobre louca alucinante
Poor, crazy and delusional
Chorando, cantava assim:
Crying, sang like this:
Oh minha paixão querida
Oh, my beloved passion
Meu amor, meu pagem belo
My love, my beautiful page boy
Foge sempre minha vida
Always run away my love
Deste maldito castelo
From this cursed castle
Contributed by Camilla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.