Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas
Elomar Geraldo Azevedo Vital Farias Xangai Lyrics

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Da Carantonha mili légua a caminhá
Muito mais, inda mais, muito mais
Da Vaca Seca, Sete Varge inda p′ra lá
Muito mais, inda mais, muito mais
Dispois dos derradêro cantão do sertão
Lá na quadrada das águas perdida
Reis, Mãe-Senhora
Beleza isquicida

Bens, a lagoa arriscosa função
Ô Caindo chiquera as cabra mais cedo Aparta Lubião, esse bode malvado, travanca o Chiquêro
Ti avia a cuidar
Alas qui as polda di sheda
Rincharo ao lua
Na madrugada suadas de medo pr'a lá
Runcas levando acesas candeia inclusão
Da Carantonha mili légua a caminhá
Mil badaronha tem qui tê pr′a chegá lá
Sete jinela sete sala um casarão
Laço dos Moura
Varge dos trumento
Velhos Domingos
Casa das Sarmentos
Moças, sinhoras
Mitriosa função
Dá pressa in guilora a ingomá nossos terno
Albarda as jumenta cum as capa de inverno
Cuida as ferramenta num dexa ela vê
Si não pode ela num anuí nois í
Onte pr'os norte de Mina o relampo raiô
Mucadim a mãe do ri as águas já tomó
Anda muntemo o mondengo pr's nois i pr′a lá
Da Carantonha mili légua a caminhá
Mil badaronha tem qui tê pr′a chegá lá
Sete jinela sete sala um casarão
Laço dos Moura
Varge dos trumento
Velhos Domingos
Casa das Sarmentos

Moças, sinhoras
Mitriosa função

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas" describe a journey through a remote region of Brazil. The song starts by mentioning two locations, Carantonha and Vaca Seca, which are both far away from the singer's current location. As they journey deeper into the sertão (backlands), they reach the quadrada das águas perdidas (square of lost waters), a place of great natural beauty that has been deserted by human beings.

The singer then describes some of the landmarks they encounter on their journey, including a lake with a dangerous reputation, a series of old mansions belonging to wealthy families, and a group of women with important responsibilities. The singer and their companions stop briefly to attend to their animals and equipment before continuing on their way.

Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the difficulty and isolation of their journey. They stress the importance of caution and preparation, reminding their listeners that the region they are traveling through is dangerous and unpredictable. Despite these challenges, however, the singer seems to find some comfort in the beauty and mystery of the landscape they are passing through.

Line by Line Meaning

Da Carantonha mili légua a caminhá
From Carantonha, a thousand leagues to walk

Muito mais, inda mais, muito mais
Much more, even more, much more

Da Vaca Seca, Sete Varge inda p′ra lá
From Vaca Seca, Seven Varge still ahead

Dispois dos derradêro cantão do sertão
After the last corner of the hinterland

Lá na quadrada das águas perdida
There, in the square of lost waters

Reis, Mãe-Senhora
Kings, Mother-Lady

Beleza isquicida
Fleeting beauty

Bens, a lagoa arriscosa função
Goods, the risky function of the lagoon

Ô Caindo chiquera as cabra mais cedo Aparta Lubião, esse bode malvado, travanca o Chiquêro
Oh, the goats falling into the corral earlier, get away Lubião, that wicked goat, lock the pen

Ti avia a cuidar
There was a need to take care

Alas qui as polda di sheda
With the saddled mare

Rincharo ao lua
Neighing at the moon

Na madrugada suadas de medo pr'a lá
In the dawn, sweaty with fear going there

Runcas levando acesas candeia inclusão
Mules carrying lit lamps, inclusion

Mil badaronha tem qui tê pr′a chegá lá
A thousand challenges must be faced to get there

Sete jinela sete sala um casarão
Seven windows, seven rooms, a manor house

Laço dos Moura
Lasso of the Mouras

Varge dos trumento
The edge of the instruments

Velhos Domingos
Old Domingos

Casa das Sarmentos
House of the Sarmentos

Moças, sinhoras
Maids, ladies