Nova Sintra
Cesaria Evora Lyrics

The lyrics of Cesária Évora's "Nova Sintra" express the feeling of loss and longing that comes from being separated from a loved one. The singer talks about someone who has left on a journey, and how she is left behind in tears, feeling lost and helpless without them. She turns to God for comfort and asks him to console her and prevent her from dying of grief. The chorus repeats the idea that love is small and longing is great, and that only God in heaven can take away this pain.

The song is named after a town on the island of Brava in Cape Verde, where Cesária Évora was born. The reference to "qel astro do mar" (the star of the sea) is likely to refer to Our Lady of Monte, a famous statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to have saved the island from a severe famine in the 18th century. The song captures the feeling of homesickness and separation that was common among Cape Verdean emigrants, who often had to leave their families behind in search of work and a better life.