Carta A Miguel Djéjé
José Afonso Lyrics
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Como está você?
Em todo o Xipamanine
Já ninguém o vê
Vou dar-lhe a minha viola
Para tocar outra vez
O seu valor um dia
Todo o mainato o ouvia
E até dançou
Miguel só você sabia
Tocar como já tocou
Vinha maningue gente
Para aprender
Moda lá da sua terra
Bonita a valer
O Jaime e o Etekinse
Amigos não volt'haver
Quando a noite se ouvia
Miguel tocar
Também havia a marimba
Para acompanhar
A noite
Na Ponta Geia
Amigos hei-de recordar
O barco foi andando
E a Nanga vi
Foi a saudade aumentando
Longe daí
A gente
Na minha terra
Não canta assim
Como eu ouvi
In José Afonso's song, "Carta a Miguel Djéje," the singer writes to his friend Miguel, asking how he is and noting that nobody sees him around Xipamanine anymore. The singer offers his own guitar to Miguel to play once again, acknowledging his skill as a musician and the way he once held the attention of everyone in the area. Miguel was the only one who knew how to play with such skill and draw people from all over to learn from him the beautiful music of his land. The singer notes that two of their friends, Jaime and Etekinse, are "friends who will never come back."
The singer also recalls how when Miguel played at night, people would dance to the music, accompanied by the marimba. This memory is a good one, with the singer saying he will always remember the camaraderie they all shared during those nights in Ponta Geia. The nostalgia the singer feels for times past and his old friend Miguel is evident in the words he writes.
Line by Line Meaning
Diga amigo Miguel
Addressing his friend Miguel and seeking to know how he is doing.
Como está você?
Asking how Miguel is doing.
Em todo o Xipamanine
Noticing that Miguel is nowhere to be found in Xipamanine.
Já ninguém o vê
Expressing concern that Miguel has disappeared and nobody knows where he is.
Vou dar-lhe a minha viola
Offering his friend his own guitar so that he can play again.
Para tocar outra vez
Encouraging Miguel to take up playing music once again.
O seu valor um dia
Remembering a time when Miguel's musical abilities were highly valued.
Você mostrou
Recalling how Miguel demonstrated his talents to everyone's delight.
Todo o mainato o ouvia
Describing how even the young children ('mainatos') would pay attention and listen to Miguel play.
E até dançou
Going a step further to explain how Miguel's music even moved people to dance.
Miguel só você sabia
Recognizing that Miguel had a unique and special talent for playing music.
Tocar como já tocou
Expressing hope that Miguel will once again play music with the same skill as he did in the past.
Vinha maningue gente
Describing how people would come from far and wide to learn from Miguel and admire his musical style.
Para aprender
Explaining the reason why people would come to see Miguel play.
Moda lá da sua terra
Highlighting that Miguel's music was unique to his own background and culture.
Bonita a valer
Praising Miguel's music as beautiful and valuable.
O Jaime e o Etekinse
Naming two specific friends who used to enjoy Miguel's music.
Amigos não volt'haver
Expressing sadness that those old friendships and good times would never be the same.
Quando a noite se ouvia
Recalling how in the past, people could hear Miguel's music at night.
Miguel tocar
Emphasizing the importance of Miguel's role as the player of music.
Também havia a marimba
Noting that there was also another instrument, the marimba, that played along with the guitar.
Para acompanhar
Explaining how the marimba served to complement the guitar music.
A noite
Referring to the night in general.
Na Ponta Geia
Naming a specific location where they used to spend the nights listening to music.
Amigos hei-de recordar
Promising to remember those old friends and the memories they shared forever.
O barco foi andando
Describing how life has gone on and changed since those days.
E a Nanga vi
Mentioning another location that is far away and unrelated to the previous memories.
Foi a saudade aumentando
Explaining that as time went on, the feeling of nostalgia only grew stronger.
Longe daí
Acknowledging that Miguel is now far away from where they used to be together.
A gente
Referring to the people in his current location, who are different from those he used to know.
Na minha terra
Reminding himself of his own roots and where he came from.
Não canta assim
Expressing the idea that the music in his current location is not the same as what he remembers from his past experiences.
Como eu ouvi
Contrasting the music he remembers with the different styles he hears now, and cherishing those memories.
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luís Alberto
Um cantor e autor de letras de primeiríssima qualidade. José Afonso para sempre um cantor excepcional.
A.Ferreira Ferreira
Um verdadeiro jogral!
Angela Silva
A BIBLIA Sagrada é o único livro do mundo que mostra toda a tudo aquilo que se tem de fazer e tudo aquilo que não se pode fazer para se ter a vida eterna e ser se perfeitamente feliz
Angela Silva
As pessoas quando morrem aí não é o fim as pessoas tem uma alma que está destinada a viver eternamente as pessoas que nesse mundo se sacrificam para serem fiéis a Deus essas pessoas vão viver com Deus eternamente e serão perfeitamente felizes as pessoas que não forem fiéis a Deus essas pessoas vão sofrer eternamente no lago de fogo