Teófilo Chantre (born 1964) is a Cape Verdean musician. He was born on the… Read Full Bio ↴Teófilo Chantre (born 1964) is a Cape Verdean musician. He was born on the island of São Nicolau. At the age of thirteen, Chantre's family left Cape Verde and migrated to Paris, France. The dislocation from his native land only served to foster Chantre's creativity as he began to compose, during his teenage years, songs inspired by the traditional morna and coladeira of Cape Verde. He was also exposed to international music and, in particular, was deeply influenced by Brazilian music. His reputation as a singer and songwriter began to increase. Cesária Évora, the legendary songstress of morna, recorded three of his songs for Miss Perfumado, the hit album that made her an international star. While Chantre also composes for others, he has meanwhile established himself as a respected performer and recording artist. His albums include Di Alma and Viaja. In concert, he plays his songs with a mostly acoustic line-up of accordion, double bass, guitar or cavaquinho and drums.

Fonte Di Nha Sodade
Teofilo Chantre Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bo manera típica d'un kriolinha
Trazem sodadi di nha infância
Kond nô ta corrê sem cansera
Na kes brincadera na luar
Cantiga di roda, senhor barqueiro manda txada
Trouxe as cartas onti pa primera vez
Un moreninha m'bejá primeramenti mudada
Es multa k m pagá f'ká

Registród na nha korason

Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi
Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi

Bo manera típica d'un kriolinha
Trazem sodadi di nha infância
Kond nô ta corrê sem cansera
Na kes brincadera na luar
Cantiga di roda, senhor barqueiro manda txada
Trouxe as cartas onti pa primera vez
Un moreninha m'bejá primeramenti mudada
Es multa k m pagá f'ká
Registród na nha korason

Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi
Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi

Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi

Nha morеninha é fonti di nha sodadi
Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Fonte Di Nha Sodade" by Teofilo Chantre speak of the longing for childhood and the nostalgia associated with it. The song reflects on the typical way of life of a "kriolinha," a person from Cape Verde, and how it brings back memories of their past. The lyrics evoke a sense of freedom and innocence, where they used to run and play without getting tired, engaging in games under the moonlight. The reference to "cantiga di roda" (round song) suggests the communal nature of their childhood experiences.

The song also mentions a barqueiro (boatman) who brought letters for the first time, and upon seeing a young woman, the singer realizes that they have changed since they last saw them. The mention of the fine they have paid and registered in their heart suggests some form of consequence or hardship brought about by this change.

The repeated lines, "Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi, Nha kriolinha é centro di atualidadi" translate to "My little brown girl is the source of my longing, My little Creole girl is the center of my reality." This expresses that the people and experiences of their childhood evoke a deep sense of yearning, while also acknowledging the importance of their Cape Verdean identity in their present life.

Overall, "Fonte Di Nha Sodade" is a heartfelt reflection on the longing for one's past and the significance of one's cultural roots.

Line by Line Meaning

Bo manera típica d'un kriolinha
Your typical Cape Verdean way

Trazem sodadi di nha infância
Brings back longing for my childhood

Kond nô ta corrê sem cansera
When we run without getting tired

Na kes brincadera na luar
In those games under the moonlight

Cantiga di roda, senhor barqueiro manda txada
Singing in a circle, the boatman sends a message

Trouxe as cartas onti pa primera vez
He brought the letters yesterday for the first time

Un moreninha m'bejá primeramenti mudada
A little girl I saw for the first time changed

Es multa k m pagá f'ká
The fine I have to pay to stay

Registród na nha korason
Registered in my heart

Nha moreninha é fonti di nha sodadi
My little brown girl is the source of my longing