Dor Di Sodade
Cesária Évora Lyrics


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Oi Cabo Verde
Bô qu'ê nha dor mas sublime
Oi Cabo Verde
Bô qu'ê nh'angustia nha paixao
Nha vida nascê
Dum desafio di bô clima ingrato
Vontade ferro pô na nha peito
Gosto pa luta pô na nhas braços
Bô qu'ê nha guerra nha doce amor

Oi Cabo Verde
Bô qu'ê nha dor mas sublime
Oi Cabo Verde
Bô qu'ê nh'angustia nha paixao
Nha vida nascê
Dum desafio di bô clima ingrato
Vontade ferro pô na nha peito
Gosto pa luta pô na nhas braços
Bô qu'ê nha guerra nha doce amor

Estendê bôs braços
Bô toma' nha sangue
Bô rega' bô tchom
Bô flori

Pa' terra-longe
Bem caba' pa nôs
Bô cu mar céu e bôs fidjos
Num doce abraço di paz

Ai naquel dia di festa
'M qu rê cola' sanjom na Picos
'M qu'rê batuco
Na rebera de Juliao

Vulcao na praia de Santa Maria
Vale di Paul na Boavista
Morna de nhô Eugénio
Na nhô San Nicolau

Ai naquel dia di festa
'M qu rê cola' sanjom na Picos
'M qu'rê batuco
Na rebera de Juliao

Vulcao na praia de Santa Maria
Vale di Paul na Boavista
Morna de nhô Eugénio
Na nhô San Nicolau

Ai naquel dia di festa
'M qu rê cola' sanjom na Picos
'M qu'rê batuco
Na rebera de Juliao

Vulcao na praia de Santa Maria
Vale di Paul na Boavista
Morna de nhô Eugénio
Na nhô San Nicolau

Vulcao na praia de Santa Maria
Vale di Paul na Boavista




Morna de nhô Eugénio
Na nhô San Nicolau

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cesaria Evora’s song Dor Di Sodade speak of a deep longing for the singer’s homeland of Cabo Verde, which she describes as her sublime pain and her passion. She sings about how her life was born out of the challenge of living in a harsh climate, but that this has also instilled in her a strong will to fight and a love for struggle. She sees her connection to Cabo Verde as a kind of war, but also a source of sweet love. The chorus repeats these sentiments about Cabo Verde being her sublime pain and her passion, and she ends the song by expressing a yearning to be embraced by the land, the sea, and her children.


Overall, the song is a love letter to Cabo Verde, expressing the singer’s deep nostalgia and love for her homeland. The lyrics are full of imagery evoking the beauty and richness of the country, mentioning specific locations and cultural touchstones. At the same time, there is a sense that this beauty and richness is hard-won, that it is the result of Cabo Verdeans’ struggle and perseverance in the face of a difficult environment.


Line by Line Meaning

Oi Cabo Verde
Greetings to Cabo Verde


Bô qu'ê nha dor mas sublime
You are my most sublime pain


Bô qu'ê nh'angustia nha paixao
You are my anguish, my passion


Nha vida nascê
My life was born


Dum desafio di bô clima ingrato
In the challenge of your harsh climate


Vontade ferro pô na nha peito
I put an iron will in my chest


Gosto pa luta pô na nhas braços
I put a taste for struggle in my arms


Bô qu'ê nha guerra nha doce amor
You are my war and my sweet love


Estendê bôs braços
Extend your arms


Bô toma' nha sangue
Take my blood


Bô rega' bô tchom
Water your land


Bô flori
May it bloom


Pa' terra-longe
To faraway lands


Bem caba' pa nôs
Welcome us


Bô cu mar céu e bôs fidjos
With sea, sky, and your children


Num doce abraço di paz
In a sweet embrace of peace


Ai naquel dia di festa
Oh, on that festive day


'M qu rê cola' sanjom na Picos
I want to dance 'sanjom' in Picos


'M qu'rê batuco
I want to dance 'batuco'


Na rebera de Juliao
On the banks of Juliao


Vulcao na praia de Santa Maria
Volcano on the beach of Santa Maria


Vale di Paul na Boavista
Valley of Paul in Boavista


Morna de nhô Eugénio
The 'morna' of Mr. Eugenio


Na nhô San Nicolau
In Mr. San Nicolau




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Amandio Cabral, Luis Morais

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Antonio Carvalho

Food for the soul...fantastic!!