Fado ao deus dara
Joana Amendoeira Lyrics


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Encontrei uma saudade
A pedir esmola na rua
Perguntei-lhe: "-Tens que idade?"
Ela disse: "Tenho a tua."

Quando a mão esquerda crescia
À caridade de alguém
Se algum dos olhos sorria
O outro dizia Ámen

Erguia ao céu os dois braços
Pedindo uma esmola a Deus
E apressava os seus passos
Para chegar depressa aos meus

Mas deixou-me ao Deus-dará
Como um velho que descobre
Naquela esmola que dá
Uma razão para ser pobre

Eu percorri a cidade
Na ânsia de me ir embora
Que quem dá esmola à saudade
Nunca mais sabe onde mora

Vivo agora pelas ruas
Mais secretas, mais sozinhas




A pedir saudades tuas
A quem tem saudades minhas.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Fado ao deus dara" by Joana Amendoeira depict a powerful portrayal of nostalgia and loss. The opening lines "Encontrei uma saudade / A pedir esmola na rua" translates to "I met a longing / Begging for alms on the street". This reference to meeting nostalgia on the street sets the tone for the melancholic lyrics of the rest of the song. The singer then asks the nostalgia how old it is, and it responds that it is as old as the singer himself.


The lyrics then continue to describe the relationship between those who give to charity and those who receive. The imagery of the left hand and right hand not knowing what the other is doing, despite both helping the needy, highlights the sense of isolation and detachment that can often come with charity work. The nostalgia in the song is described as lifting its arms up to the sky, asking for alms from God, and hurrying to get to the singer. However, the nostalgia eventually leaves the singer alone and destitute, like an old man who discovers a reason to be poor in the act of giving.


In the final verses, the singer describes wandering the streets in search of the nostalgia, longing for the past and reminiscing about lost memories. The lines "A pedir saudades tuas / A quem tem saudades minhas" translates to "Asking for your longings / From those who long for mine". This creates a sense of cyclical longing and loss, as though there is no escape from the pain of nostalgia.


Line by Line Meaning

Encontrei uma saudade
I encountered a feeling of nostalgia


A pedir esmola na rua
Begging for alms in the street


Perguntei-lhe: "-Tens que idade?"
I asked her: "How old are you?"


Ela disse: "Tenho a tua."
She replied: "I am the same age as you."


Quando a mão esquerda crescia
When the left hand was growing


À caridade de alguém
Through someone's charity


Se algum dos olhos sorria
If one of the eyes smiled


O outro dizia Ámen
The other said amen


Erguia ao céu os dois braços
She raised both arms to the sky


Pedindo uma esmola a Deus
Begging for alms from God


E apressava os seus passos
And hurried her steps


Para chegar depressa aos meus
To quickly reach my side


Mas deixou-me ao Deus-dará
But left me to fate's mercy


Como um velho que descobre
Like an old man who discovers


Naquela esmola que dá
In that alms he gives


Uma razão para ser pobre
A reason to be poor


Eu percorri a cidade
I wandered through the city


Na ânsia de me ir embora
In the eagerness to leave


Que quem dá esmola à saudade
For whoever gives alms to nostalgia


Nunca mais sabe onde mora
Never knows where they live


Vivo agora pelas ruas
I now live in the streets


Mais secretas, mais sozinhas
More secluded, more lonely


A pedir saudades tuas
Begging for memories of you


A quem tem saudades minhas.
From those who have memories of me.




Contributed by Lincoln S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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