Fado Português
Amália Rodrigues Lyrics
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quando o vento mal bulia
e o céu o mar prolongava,
na amurada dum veleiro,
no peito dum marinheiro
que, estando triste, cantava,
que, estando triste, cantava.
Ai, que lindeza tamanha,
de folhas, flores, frutas de oiro,
vê se vês terras de Espanha,
areias de Portugal,
olhar ceguinho de choro.
Na boca dum marinheiro
do frágil barco veleiro,
morrendo a canção magoada,
diz o pungir dos desejos
do lábio a queimar de beijos
que beija o ar, e mais nada,
que beija o ar, e mais nada.
Mãe, adeus. Adeus, Maria.
Guarda bem no teu sentido
que aqui te faço uma jura:
que ou te levo à sacristia,
ou foi Deus que foi servido
dar-me no mar sepultura.
Ora eis que embora outro dia,
quando o vento nem bulia
e o céu o mar prolongava,
à proa de outro veleiro
velava outro marinheiro
que, estando triste, cantava,
que, estando triste, cantava.
The lyrics to Amália Rodrigues's "Fado Português" tell the story of the origin of the fado genre of music. The fado is said to have been born one day when the wind barely stirred and the sky stretched out over the sea. On the deck of a small sailing vessel, a sad sailor sang his heart out, pouring his melancholy into the music he created. He sang of the beauty of his homeland, of Portugal, and of the pain he felt at being so far away from it.
The sailor sang of his love, perhaps for a woman named Maria or for his mother, bidding them farewell as he sailed away. The music spoke of his longing for home and the desire to see Spain from afar. The poignant melody captured the essence of the Portuguese soul, expressing the deep emotions felt by many through the ages.
The lyrics of "Fado Português" are deeply meaningful, with each verse painting a vivid picture of a life lived at sea. Amália Rodrigues's rendition of this timeless classic has captured the hearts of countless people worldwide, and the song remains a touchstone for those who appreciate the beauty and poignancy of traditional Portuguese music.
Line by Line Meaning
O Fado nasceu um dia,
The Fado was born one day,
quando o vento mal bulia
when the wind barely moved
e o céu o mar prolongava,
and the sky prolonged the sea
na amurada dum veleiro,
on the deck of a sailboat
no peito dum marinheiro
in the heart of a sailor
que, estando triste, cantava,
who, being sad, sang
que, estando triste, cantava.
who, being sad, sang.
Ai, que lindeza tamanha,
Oh, what great beauty
meu chão, meu monte, meu vale,
my land, my mountain, my valley,
de folhas, flores, frutas de oiro,
of leaves, flowers, and golden fruits
vê se vês terras de Espanha,
see if you can see the lands of Spain,
areias de Portugal,
the sands of Portugal,
olhar ceguinho de choro.
a teary-eyed look.
Na boca dum marinheiro
In the mouth of a sailor
do frágil barco veleiro,
on the fragile sailboat
morrendo a canção magoada,
dying is the hurtful song,
diz o pungir dos desejos
expressing the sting of desires
do lábio a queimar de beijos
of the lips burning with kisses
que beija o ar, e mais nada,
that kiss the air, and nothing else,
que beija o ar, e mais nada.
that kiss the air, and nothing else.
Mãe, adeus. Adeus, Maria.
Mother, goodbye. Goodbye, Maria.
Guarda bem no teu sentido
Keep it in your heart
que aqui te faço uma jura:
that I make a vow to you here:
que ou te levo à sacristia,
that either I'll take you to the sacristy,
ou foi Deus que foi servido
or it was God's will
dar-me no mar sepultura.
to give me a burial in the sea.
Ora eis que embora outro dia,
Now, behold another day
quando o vento nem bulia
when the wind didn't move
e o céu o mar prolongava,
and the sky prolonged the sea
à proa de outro veleiro
on the bow of another sailboat
velava outro marinheiro
sailed another sailor,
que, estando triste, cantava,
who, being sad, sang,
que, estando triste, cantava.
who, being sad, sang.
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.