António Zambujo was born in Beja, Alentejo (South of Portugal) in 1975. He … Read Full Bio ↴António Zambujo was born in Beja, Alentejo (South of Portugal) in 1975. He grew up listening to the traditional male chant called ‘Cante Alentejano’ that became one of his strongest influences. Around the age of 8, Zambujo started studying clarinet but soon he fell in love with Fado when listening to Amália Rodrigues, Alfredo Marceneiro, Maria Teresa de Noronha and João Ferreira Rosa. And it was singing, when he was 16 years old, that he won a regional Fado contest. His professional carreer started when Mário Pacheco, the renowned Portuguese guitarist and composer, invited him to sing in his Clube de Fado, in Lisbon. Not for a long time though… After an audition, António was chosen to take the role of Francisco da Cruz, Amalia’s first husband, in the blockbuster Musical ‘Amália’. He performed continuously during 4 years in Lisbon and after that he toured all around Portugal achieving enormous success. ‘It was a unique experience that taught me the stage «feeling» plus the strict working discipline of a theatre company’. In 2002 his first record ‘O mesmo Fado’ was released. Though you can find in it, as in all Zambujo’s records, some influences of ..Cante Alentejano’, the record achieved great recognition in the “Fado world’. Several songs were chosen to be part of major Fado anthologies and António Zambujo won the prestigious ‘Radio Nova FM’ prize for the ‘Best new Fado voice’ that was previously addressed to Mariza, Camané and Mafalda Arnauth. The 2004’s ‘Por meu cante’ gave us some clues about Zambujo’s future artistic path. His homeland influences were clearer, the merge between ‘Cante Alentejano’ and Fado was always present and, though it happened to be somehow controversial, no impeachment was called. António Zambujo won the Amália Rodrigues Foundation’s prize for the Best Fado Male Singer. 2007 is a significant year in Zambujo’s career. His third record ‘Outro sentido’ is a statement from a mature artist that has found his own particular way. Also the remarkable Lisbon’s festival closing concert and the duet with Luís Represas, a top pop singer, have shown that Zambujo and his music are really difficult to label.

Só Pode Ser Amor
António Zambujo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

E só ficamos nós os dois ao Deus-dará

Mas sei meu bem-querer, que perto do final
Alguém vai prometer sarar a nossa dor

Só quero a tua mão, depois sou imortal
Se não é só perdão, só pode ser amor

Overall Meaning

In "Só Pode Ser Amor" (It Must Be Love), António Zambujo describes the apprehension and the uncertainty that often come with love. He begins by acknowledging that one day, he will lose the light in his life and be left feeling lost and incomplete. He then admits that he knows he will cry, understanding that the loss will be immense. Despite feeling unsure about what love or forgiveness really mean, he knows that near the end of his life, someone will offer a reprieve from his pain. In the end, all he wants is his loved one's hand, and if it's more than just forgiveness, then it must be love.

Zambujo's lyrics are introspective, yet relatable. They explore the complexities often experienced in romantic relationships, acknowledging the inevitability of loss while also valuing the moments that make life worth living. The song's sparse instrumentation and slow tempo provide a sympathetic musical background, adding to its emotional depth. It's a beautifully crafted song that leaves a lasting impact on its listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu sei, meu bem-querer, que um dia vai faltar
I know, my beloved, that one day something will be missing

A luz, e vou perder o pé no coração
The light, and I will lose my footing in my heart

Não há perda maior, eu sei que vou chorar
There is no greater loss, I know I will cry

Não sei se isso é amor, não sei se isso é perdão
I don't know if this is love, I don't know if this is forgiveness

Eu sei que a vida tem um rio para navegar
I know that life has a river to navigate

Barquinho vai e vem e a gente sabe lá
Little boat goes back and forth and we don't really know

A saudade é a foz, depois, é tanto mar
The longing is the mouth of the river, then it's so much sea

E só ficamos nós os dois ao Deus-dará
And there's just the two of us, at the mercy of God

Mas sei meu bem-querer, que perto do final
But I know, my beloved, that near the end

Alguém vai prometer sarar a nossa dor
Someone will promise to heal our pain

Só quero a tua mão, depois sou imortal
I just want your hand, then I am immortal

Se não é só perdão, só pode ser amor
If it's not just forgiveness, it can only be love

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Elisabete Mendes

8y↑5

Eu sei, meu bem-querer, que um dia vai faltar
A luz, e vou perder o pé no coração
Não há perda maior, eu sei que vou chorar
Não sei se isso é amor, não sei se isso é perdão

Eu sei que a vida tem um rio para navegar
Barquinho vai e vem e a gente sbe lá
A saudade é a foz, depois, é tanto mar
E só ficamos nós os dois ao Deus-dará

Mas sei meu bem-querer, que perto do final
Ninguém vai prometer sarar a nossa dor
Só quero a tua mão, depois sou imortal
Se não é só perdão, só pode ser amor

Danilo Botelho bom dia