Africa
Rui Veloso Lyrics


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Tu eras aquela que eu mais queria
P'ra me dar algum conforto e companhia
Era só contigo que eu sonhava andar
P'ra todo o lado e até quem sabe?
Talvez casar

Ai o que eu passei, só por te amar
A saliva que eu gastei para te mudar
Mas esse teu mundo era mais forte do que eu
E nem com a forá§a da máºsica ele se moveu

Refrá£o:
Mesmo sabendo que ná£o gostavas
Empenhei o meu anel de rubi
Para te levar ao concerto
Que havia no rivoli

Era só a ti que eu mais queria
Ao meu lado no concerto nesse dia
Juntos no escuro de má£o dada a ouvir
Aquela máºsica maluca sempre a subir

Mas tu ná£o ficaste nem meia-hora
Ná£o fizeste um esforá§o p'ra gostar e foste embora
Contigo aprendi uma grande liá§á£o
Ná£o se ama alguém que ná£o ouve a mesma caná§á£o

Refrá£o

Foi nesse dia que percebi
Nada mais por nós havia a fazer
A minha paixá£o por ti era um lume
Que ná£o tinha mais lenha por onde arder





Refrá£o

Overall Meaning

The song "África" by Rui Veloso tells the story of a man who fell in love with a woman from Africa. He believed that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and dreamed of being with her all the time. However, he encountered many challenges in trying to make her understand his love for her. The man spent a lot of time and effort trying to change her way of life, but she remained steadfast in her beliefs and values. He even went ahead to sell his ruby ring, which had great sentimental value to him, to take her to a concert at the Rivoli, but she did not seem to enjoy the experience and left before it could end. This made the man realize that he could not force someone to love him, and he had to let go of his feelings because they were not being reciprocated.


The song highlights the cultural differences that existed between the man and the woman from Africa. It shows that love is not enough to build a lasting relationship, and it is essential to understand and respect one another's cultures when trying to form a relationship. It also emphasizes the importance of letting go of a relationship when it is clear that it cannot work.


Line by Line Meaning

Tu eras aquela que eu mais queria P'ra me dar algum conforto e companhia
You were the one I wanted the most to give me comfort and company


Era só contigo que eu sonhava andar P'ra todo o lado e até quem sabe? Talvez casar
It was only with you that I dreamed of walking everywhere and maybe even getting married


Ai o que eu passei, só por te amar A saliva que eu gastei para te mudar Mas esse teu mundo era mais forte do que eu E nem com a forá§a da máºsica ele se moveu
Oh, what I went through just because I loved you. I wasted so much saliva trying to change you, but your world was stronger than me, and even with the power of music, it didn't move.


Refrá£o: Mesmo sabendo que ná£o gostavas Empenhei o meu anel de rubi Para te levar ao concerto Que havia no rivoli
Chorus: Even though I knew you didn't like it, I pawned my ruby ring to take you to the concert at the Rivoli.


Era só a ti que eu mais queria Ao meu lado no concerto nesse dia Juntos no escuro de má£o dada a ouvir Aquela máºsica maluca sempre a subir
It was only you that I wanted most by my side at the concert that day. Together in the darkness, holding hands, listening to that crazy music always rising.


Mas tu ná£o ficaste nem meia-hora Ná£o fizeste um esforá§o p'ra gostar e foste embora Contigo aprendi uma grande liá§á£o Ná£o se ama alguém que ná£o ouve a mesma caná§á£o
But you didn't even stay for half an hour. You didn't make an effort to like it and just left. With you, I learned a great lesson: you can't love someone who doesn't hear the same song.


Refrá£o
Chorus


Foi nesse dia que percebi Nada mais por nós havia a fazer A minha paixá£o por ti era um lume Que ná£o tinha mais lenha por onde arder
It was on that day that I realized that there was nothing more for us to do. My passion for you was a flame that had no more wood to burn.


Refrá£o
Chorus




Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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