She grew up far from the fado houses of Lisbon and nothing suggested that she was predestined for the fado. Like almost all young Portuguese born after the revolution of 1974, she was interested in folk music, jazz, blues, bossa nova but not in fado. She regarded it as a genre for a different generation. This lasted until her 18th birthday, when her grandfather gave her the album Rara e Inédita by Amália Rodrigues. Suddenly, Cristina Branco discovered all the emotions that the genre could offer in the close connections that arose among voice, poetry and music. The amateur singer - then studying communication sciences and still full of her ambition to become a journalist - began to develop her vocal technique and to take her new vocation seriously.
After that, Cristina studied the poems from which major fado lyrics are taken.
Since then, Cristina has worked on her fado repertory, accompanied by Custódio Castelo on guitar and as composer.
Halfway through the nineties, other young musicians also found a new means of expression in the fado and this contributed to a surprising renaissance. Just as they did, Cristina Branco began to make clear choices in which respect for the tradition went hand in hand with the desire for renewal.
There can be no doubt that Cristina Branco is developing her own style from a number of primary components. She employs a traditional group (voice, Portuguese guitar, guitar and bass guitar) and offers us concurrently a light, warm and experienced voice; she mixes the traditional fado with themes and folk songs that are personal favourites and seems always to choose the words of the best Portuguese, or even Dutch poets with discretion.
Povo Que Lavas No Rio
Cristina Branco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E talhas com o teu machado
As tábuas do meu caixão.
Pode haver quem te defenda
Quem compre o teu chão sagrado
Mas a tua vida não.
Fui ter à mesa redonda
Bebi em malga que me esconde
O beijo de mão em mão.
Era o vinho que me deste
A água pura, puro agreste
Mas a tua vida não.
Aromas de luz e de lama
Dormi com eles na cama
Tive a mesma condição.
Povo, povo, eu te pertenço
Deste-me alturas de incenso,
Mas a tua vida não.
Povo que lavas no rio
E talhas com o teu machado
As tábuas do meu caixão.
Pode haver quem te defenda
Quem compre o teu chão sagrado
Mas a tua vida não.
The song "Povo Que Lavas No Rio" by Cristina Branco speaks about the injustices and struggles faced by the lower-class people who work hard labor jobs such as washing clothes in the river and cutting wood with their axes. The symbol of the river is used as a metaphor of the never-ending cycle of hard work and poverty. The people who work tirelessly to provide for their families, despite their efforts, will never truly escape the poverty cycle. The lyrics suggest that although others may try to defend and protect their land, they will never understand the hardships of their lives.
The verse, "Fui ter à mesa redonda" (I went to the round table), talks about how the singer has experienced the hospitality of these people and enjoyed the simple pleasures that they offer, such as food and drink. However, despite being grateful and having been shown kindness, the singer acknowledges that they will never truly understand the depth of struggle and hardship that these people face every day.
The chorus repeats the first verse, emphasizing that the cycle of poverty and hard labor will continue, and while others may try to intervene, the lives of these people will continue to be difficult. The lyrics convey a feeling of sadness and empathy towards the people who work tirelessly with no escape from the poverty cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Povo que lavas no rio
Oh people, who wash in the river
E talhas com o teu machado
And cut with your axe
As tábuas do meu caixão.
The boards of my coffin.
Pode haver quem te defenda
There may be those who defend you
Quem compre o teu chão sagrado
Those who buy your sacred ground
Mas a tua vida não.
But not your life.
Fui ter à mesa redonda
I went to the round table
Bebi em malga que me esconde
Drinking from a hidden bowl
O beijo de mão em mão.
The kisses from hand to hand.
Era o vinho que me deste
It was the wine you gave me
A água pura, puro agreste
Pure water, pure wildness
Mas a tua vida não.
But not your life.
Aromas de luz e de lama
Aromas of light and mud
Dormi com eles na cama
I slept with them in bed
Tive a mesma condição.
I had the same condition.
Povo, povo, eu te pertenço
People, people, I belong to you
Deste-me alturas de incenso,
You gave me heights of incense
Mas a tua vida não.
But not your life.
Povo que lavas no rio
Oh people, who wash in the river
E talhas com o teu machado
And cut with your axe
As tábuas do meu caixão.
The boards of my coffin.
Pode haver quem te defenda
There may be those who defend you
Quem compre o teu chão sagrado
Those who buy your sacred ground
Mas a tua vida não.
But not your life.
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.