Born on the 27th August 1941 in the port town of Mindelo, Cape Verde, on the island of São Vicente. Long known as the queen of the morna, a soulful genre (related to the Portuguese fado) sung in Creole-Portuguese, she mixed her sentimental folk tunes filled with longing and sadness with the acoustic sounds of guitar, cavaquinho, violin, accordion, and clarinet. Évora's Cape Verdean blues often spoke of the country's history of isolation and slave trade, as well as emigration; almost two-thirds of the million Cape Verdeans alive live abroad.
Évora's voice, a finely-tuned, melancholy instrument with a touch of hoarseness, highlighted her emotional phrasing by accenting a word or phrase. Even audiences who do not understand her language could be held spell-bound by the emotions evident in her performances.
In 2004 she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
A heavy smoker for decades, Évora was diagnosed with heart problems in 2005. She suffered strokes in 2008 and in September 2011, when she announced she was retiring. She died at the age of seventy in São Vicente, Cape Verde on the 17th December 2011 from respiratory failure and hypertension. A Spanish newspaper reported that forty-eight hours before her death she was still receiving people in her home in Mindelo, popular for always having its doors open.
Bondade E Maldade
Cesária Évora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Moda nôs mesmo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
Ca bocés bem fala mal
Di quem condoé de bocés
E antom sem hesita
Tentá liviá bocês dor
Imon'm do-be nha mon
Pa levanto-be de tchom
Pa quê bô qu'rê pintcha-me
Agora qu'bô ta impê
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Moda nôs mesmo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Moda nôs mesmo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
Ja tabom dess traição
Bocês ola ess situação
Bondade ta sem valor
Maldade é qu'ta mandá
Ma mimca qu're ser mau
É contra nha humanidade
Ca bocês da-me de pau
É contra nôs irmondande
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
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Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Moda nôs mesmo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
Ca bocés bem fala mal
Di quem condoé de bocés
E antom sem hesita
Tentá liviá bocês dor
Imon'm do-be nha mon
Pa levanto-be de tchom
Pa quê bô qu'rê pintcha-me
Agora qu'bô ta impê
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
Moda nôs mesmo
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Pa otchá só ingratidão
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The lyrics to Cesaria Evora's song Bondade E Maldade convey a message of kindness, compassion, and empathy towards others. The verses urge us to be mindful of our fellow human beings and to treat them with the same care and respect that we would want for ourselves. The lyrics speak of the injustices and ingratitude that exist in the world, and how we can all make a difference by extending a helping hand to those in need.
The repeated phrase "Nasso Senhor ta d'zê" translates to "Our Lord is saying" and serves as a reminder that we should strive to live according to the values of kindness and compassion that are central to many religious traditions. The verses also show that it's important to be forgiving and to help relieve others' pain, rather than passing judgment or being self-centered.
As a whole, the song emphasizes the importance of treating others with love and understanding, especially during difficult times. Its message of kindness and empathy is universal and timeless, inspiring us to be better people and to make a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Nasso Senhor ta d'zê
Our Lord is saying
Pa nô idjá nôs proximo
To go help our neighbor
Moda nôs mesmo
As we would ourselves
Tonte qu'em tem fête ness mundo
Because there is enough sadness in the world
Pa otchá só ingratidão
To only see ingratitude
Ca bocés bem fala mal
For you to speak badly
Di quem condoé de bocés
Of those who care for you
E antom sem hesita
And then without hesitation
Tentá liviá bocês dor
Try to relieve your pain
Imon'm do-be nha mon
I offer you my hand
Pa levanto-be de tchom
To help you get up
Pa quê bô qu'rê pintcha-me
So why do you want to hurt me
Agora qu'bô ta impê
Now that you're stopping me
Ja tabom dess traição
I am tired of betrayal
Bocês ola ess situação
You see this situation
Bondade ta sem valor
Kindness has no value
Maldade é qu'ta mandá
It's evil that rules
Ma mimca qu're ser mau
But those who want to be bad
É contra nha humanidade
Are against our humanity
Ca bocês da-me de pau
You treat me like a fool
É contra nôs irmondande
You're against our brotherhood
Contributed by Samuel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stasshustov3443
Soulful song!)
@letsatsir
Your music leaves on...your sound is unique....
@joaodanielhernandez4622
linda música
@lilianavlad3900
simply beautiful!
@EricMarcelinJezichael
Very beautiful song. RIP
@pedrovannes
cesaria was my favorite woman singer.
@tommysundberg1493
Évora är toppen. She is😉best
@jeromelamarre7998
Cesária Évora- bondade e maldade
Kindliness & Maliciousness "
@joanlalloo7372
WAS, IS MY FAVORITE SINGER
@elisaokou1509
J'aime