Roma Criola
Cesária Évora Lyrics


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Um fase di oro
Bo conche o Mindelo
Bo porto-coracao
Ta irriga-bo di riqueza

Um era d'esplendor
Qui tcha tracos na povo
Na boa arquitetura
Bo cosmopolitismo
Qui faze di bo
Um roma criola
Gloriosa e decadente

Ma hoje bo tita vive
Ness gloria passada
Bo historia bo ca ta pode
Refaze'I
Uvi voz di bos poeta
Ta canta p'um futuro risonho
Pa bo e Cabo Verde

Se Mindelo um vez era sabe
Inda el ta ser mas sabe




Se Mindelo uma vez era sabe
Inda el ta ser mas sabe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cesaria Evora's song Roma Criola speak about the history and glory of Mindelo, a city in Cape Verde, which was once a prosperous and cosmopolitan center of trade and culture. The song talks about a time of splendor when the city was alive with the voices of poets, the architecture was grand and sophisticated, and Mindelo was a melting pot of different cultures, making it a true 'criolla' city. The singer evokes images of the past that are still remembered and appreciated by the people of Cape Verde.


However, the mood changes as the song progresses, and it becomes apparent that Mindelo's glory days are over, and the city is now a shadow of its former self. The lyrics urge the people of Cape Verde to remember their past and to preserve their rich cultural heritage. The song ends with a message of hope, encouraging the people to look forward to a bright future and to continue to sing the praises of Cape Verde and Mindelo.


Line by Line Meaning

Um fase di oro
A time of gold


Bo conche o Mindelo
You know Mindelo


Bo porto-coracao
Your heart harbor


Ta irriga-bo di riqueza
Irrigates you with wealth


Um era d'esplendor
An era of splendor


Qui tcha tracos na povo
That left traces in the people


Na boa arquitetura
In good architecture


Bo cosmopolitismo
Your cosmopolitanism


Qui faze di bo
That made of you


Um roma criola
A Creole Rome


Gloriosa e decadente
Glorious and decadent


Ma hoje bo tita vive
But today you still live


Ness gloria passada
In that past glory


Bo historia bo ca ta pode
Your story cannot be redone


Refaze'I
Remade it


Uvi voz di bos poeta
Listen to the voice of your poets


Ta canta p'um futuro risonho
They sing for a bright future


Pa bo e Cabo Verde
For you and Cape Verde


Se Mindelo um vez era sabe
If Mindelo was once wise


Inda el ta ser mas sabe
It would still be even wiser


Se Mindelo uma vez era sabe
If Mindelo was once wise


Inda el ta ser mas sabe
It would still be even wiser




Contributed by Mateo D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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