Cantigas do Maio
José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso, Zeca Afonso … Read Full Bio ↴José Manuel Cerqueira Afonso dos Santos, known as José Afonso, Zeca Afonso or just Zeca (2 August 1929 – 23 February 1987), was born in Aveiro, Portugal. Zeca is among the most influential folk and political musicians in Portuguese history. He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of Oliveira Salazar, resistance that triumphed in 1974 with the pro-democratic leftist military coup of the Carnation Revolution. His song Grândola, Vila Morena is closely associated with the revolution, since it was chosen to be the password transmitted by radio for the beginning of the movement that toppled the dictatorship. In the ensuing revolutionary process, Zeca was a very active musician and continued composing political and folk songs, often criticizing the post-revolutionary changes. Years after his death, Zeca Afonso is still widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but also abroad.

Cantigas do Maio
José Afonso Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eu fui ver a minha amada
Lá p'rós baixos dum jardim
Dei-lhe uma rosa encarnada
Para se lembrar de mim

Eu fui ver o meu benzinho
Lá p'rós lados dum passal
Dei-lhe o meu lenço de linho
Que é do mais fino bragal

Minha mãe quando eu morrer
Ai chore por quem muito amargou

Para então dizer ao mundo
Ai Deus mo deu Ai Deus mo levou

Eu fui ver uma donzela
Numa barquinha a dormir
Dei-lhe uma colcha de seda
Para nela se cobrir

Eu fui ver uma solteira
Numa salinha a fiar
Dei-lhe uma rosa vermelha
Para de mim se encantar

Minha mãe quando eu morrer
Ai chore por quem muito amargou
Para então dizer ao mundo
Ai Deus mo deu Ai Deus mo levou

Eu fui ver a minha amada
Lá nos campos eu fui ver
Dei-lhe uma rosa encarnada
Para de mim se prender

Verdes prados, verdes campos
Onde está minha paixão
As andorinhas não param
Umas voltam outras não

Minha mãe quando eu morrer
Ai chore por quem muito amargou




Para então dizer ao mundo
Ai Deus mo deu Ai Deus mo levou

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Cantigas do Maio" by José Afonso depicts a young man who is desperately in love with his beloved. He visits her in a garden and gifted her a red rose so that she remembers him. He also visits his sweetheart in her shelter and gifted her his linen handkerchief, which is considered the finest linen fabric in the region. Afonso depicts a young man so devoted to his beloved that even after his death, he desires his mother to mourn his love for her.


The man encounters other women on his journey, and he also gifts them with something. He gave a sleeping damsel a silk blanket to cover herself, and the single maiden, spinning in her room, receives a red rose from him so she would also be enchanted by his love. The lyrics also depict the lush green fields and meadows where the singer searches for his love.


Line by Line Meaning

Eu fui ver a minha amada Lá p'rós baixos dum jardim Dei-lhe uma rosa encarnada Para se lembrar de mim
I went to see my beloved in the garden and gave her a red rose to remember me by.


Eu fui ver o meu benzinho Lá p'rós lados dum passal Dei-lhe o meu lenço de linho Que é do mais fino bragal
I went to see my sweetheart by the arbor and gifted him my finest linen handkerchief.


Minha mãe quando eu morrer Ai chore por quem muito amargou Para então dizer ao mundo Ai Deus mo deu Ai Deus mo levou
When I die, my mother should cry for the one who suffered too much and say, 'God gave him to me and God took him away.'


Eu fui ver uma donzela Numa barquinha a dormir Dei-lhe uma colcha de seda Para nela se cobrir
I went to see a maiden sleeping in a boat and offered her a silk blanket to cover herself with.


Eu fui ver uma solteira Numa salinha a fiar Dei-lhe uma rosa vermelha Para de mim se encantar
I went to see a maiden spinning yarn in a little room and presented her with a red rose to enchant her.


Eu fui ver a minha amada Lá nos campos eu fui ver Dei-lhe uma rosa encarnada Para de mim se prender
I went to see my beloved in the fields and gave her a red rose to make her fall for me.


Verdes prados, verdes campos Onde está minha paixão As andorinhas não param Umas voltam outras não
Green meadows, green fields, where is my passion? Swallows don't stay, some come back, others don't.


Minha mãe quando eu morrer Ai chore por quem muito amargou Para então dizer ao mundo Ai Deus mo deu Ai Deus mo levou
When I die, my mother should cry for the one who suffered too much and say, 'God gave him to me and God took him away.'




Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found

More Versions