Mafalda Arnauth, born in Lisbon, Portugal, in October of 1974, was at the t… Read Full Bio ↴Mafalda Arnauth, born in Lisbon, Portugal, in October of 1974, was at the time one of the latest revelations in fado. She started her career in 1995 when invited by João Braga (an important fado singer) to participate in a concert at S. Luis's Theater. What initially seemed to be a single experience, turned out to be a way of life.

Today her value is recognized, not only in Portugal but also in many foreign countries, where her presence is regularly requested.

Mafalda Arnauth, her first album released in 1999, was immediately acclaimed by specialists and won the Prize for Best Upcoming Voice by the weekly magazine Blitz, a sign that new generations are back into fado.

After a year filled with concerts and important invitations, that took her to the most important concert halls in The Netherlands, the Louisiana Centre (Denmark) and to Italy, to perform in the festival Sete-Sois, Sete-Luas, an important Mediterranean folk event, she sang at Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon), where she was warmly acclaimed by the press.

Mafalda's second album, Esta voz que me atravessa (This voice that goes through me) was reelased in 2001 and it was produced by Amélia Muge and José Martins. Her album Encantamento was self-produced. She feels it "leaves fatality, disgrace, and nostalgia behind. Hope is fed on sadness; inspiration on suffering; strength and courage on diffculties."

Meus Lindos Olhos
Mafalda Arnauth Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Meus lindos olhos, qual pequeno Deus
Pois são divinos, de tão belos os teus
Quem tos pintou, com tal condão
Jamais neles sonhou criar tanta imensidão

De oiro celeste
Filhos de uma chama agreste
Astros que alto o céu revestem

E onde a tua história é escrita

Meus lindos olhos, de lua cheia
Um esquecido do outro, a brilhar p'ra rua inteira
Quem não conhece teu triste fado
Não desvenda em teu riso um chorar tão magoado

Perdões pedidos
Num murmúrio desolado
Quando o réu morava ao lado
Mais cruel não pode ser

Este fado que aqui canto inspirou-se só em ti
Tu que nasces e renasces sempre que algo morre em ti

Quem me dera poder cantar
Horas, dias, tão sem fim

Quando pedes só p'ra mim
Por favor, só mais um fado

Overall Meaning

The song Meus Lindos Olhos, by Mafalda Arnauth, starts with a comparison between the singer's eyes and a small god, highlighting their beauty and divine nature. The song also questions who could have painted these eyes with such mastery, creating so much greatness within them. The following verse mentions the "celestial gold" of the eyes, which are like children of a wild flame, stars that cover the sky where the singer's story is written.

The second part of the song refers to the singer's eyes as "full moon eyes," shining brightly for everyone to see. However, the lyrics also suggest that there's a sad story behind them that one can't comprehend just by looking at how the singer smiles. The third verse brings up an image of remorse and regrets, where the "culprit" lives next to the singer, making their suffering even more unbearable. The song's overall tone is melancholic and nostalgic, celebrating the beauty of the eyes while also acknowledging the pain and sorrow they carry.

In conclusion, Meus Lindos Olhos is a song that showcases Mafalda Arnauth's vocal range and her ability to convey complex emotions through her music. The lyrics speak of the duality between joy and sadness, beauty, and pain, using vivid imagery and metaphors to create a layered and poetic piece.

Line by Line Meaning

Meus lindos olhos, qual pequeno Deus
My beautiful eyes, like a miniature God

Pois são divinos, de tão belos os teus
Because they are divine, so beautiful are yours

Quem tos pintou, com tal condão
Who painted them, with such skill

Jamais neles sonhou criar tanta imensidão
Never dreamed of creating such vastness in them

De oiro celeste
Of celestial gold

Filhos de uma chama agreste
Children of a wild flame

Astros que alto o céu revestem
Stars that cover the sky high

E onde a tua história é escrita
And where your story is written

Meus lindos olhos, de lua cheia
My beautiful eyes, like a full moon

Um esquecido do outro, a brilhar p’ra rua inteira
One shining for the other, lighting up the whole street

Quem não conhece teu triste fado
Those who don't know your sad fate