Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha
Cesária Évora Lyrics


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Tcham canta, m'bem
Traze boses
Um aroma daquel pais
Cabo Verde terra querida
Qu'nos tu quere na coracon

Cabo Verde manda mantenha
Se benson nun bes d'sodade
Pa tud ses fidj' na terra longe
El d'zem pan fla boses
Ma se ragos tem quel calor




Pa tud ses fidje
Ku mesm' amor

Overall Meaning

The song Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha by Cesária Évora is a beautiful tribute to the singer's homeland, Cape Verde. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and nostalgia for the island nation, which is described as a cherished land that is held close to the hearts of its people. The opening lines, "Tcham canta, m'bem / Traze boses / Um aroma daquel pais" suggest that the singer has returned to Cape Verde and is bringing with her the sounds and scents that are associated with the place. This sense of bringing a part of Cape Verde with her is reinforced by the use of the word "aroma," which suggests something that is both tangible and intangible.


The chorus, "Cabo Verde manda mantenha / Se benson nun bes d'sodade / Pa tud ses fidj' na terra longe / El d'zem pan fla boses / Ma se ragos tem quel calor / Pa tud ses fidje / Ku mesm' amor," embodies the central theme of the song, which is that Cape Verdeans who live far away from their homeland should always remember and cherish their connection to it. The phrase "Cabo Verde manda mantenha" can be translated as "Cape Verde sends reminders," and it suggests that even though the physical distance might be great, the connection between the people and their homeland is strong and enduring. The repetition of "Pa tud ses fidj' na terra longe" emphasizes the importance of this connection to Cape Verdeans who live away from home.


Overall, Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha is a gorgeous song that not only celebrates Cape Verde, but also speaks to the universal human experience of feeling homesick and longing for the places we love.


Line by Line Meaning

Tcham canta, m'bem
As Tcham sings, I come closer


Traze boses
Bringing voices


Um aroma daquel pais
An aroma from that country


Cabo Verde terra querida
Beloved land of Cabo Verde


Qu'nos tu quere na coracon
That we hold dear in our hearts


Cabo Verde manda mantenha
Cabo Verde sends its keepers


Se benson nun bes d'sodade
If you don't feel homesick


Pa tud ses fidj' na terra longe
For all its children far away


El d'zem pan fla boses
They ask for bread to speak up


Ma se ragos tem quel calor
But if the rains have that heat


Pa tud ses fidje
For all its children


Ku mesm' amor
With the same love




Contributed by Isaiah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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