Amor Antigo – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Os Alentons

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the Portuguese language and the rich culture of the Alentejo region with "Amor Antigo." The song is special as it's rooted in the UNESCO-recognized *Cante Alentejano* tradition, offering a melodic way to learn emotional vocabulary (*afeto*, *amor antigo*) and understand the nuances of a traditional Portuguese dialect, all within a modern folk soundscape. Pay attention to the expressive vocal style and the sound of the *viola campaniça* to connect with Portugal's living heritage.

[English]

Tonight, I'll take the lead,

I don't even wear my cap anymore.

We'll do like in the movies,

Give me a kiss and lift your foot.

Bring the ribbon in your hair,

And your high heels.

Go ahead and count the stars,

Because I'm already in love.

It already feels like old love,

I've only known you for a week.

Every time I’m with you,

Even the little shelter shakes.

I don’t know if I’m lost,

Or if you’re the one turning me around.

You’re at the edge of reason,

My head is spinning.

Oh, tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

Tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

I can’t get that kiss out of my head,

The one you gave me.

You’re twisting around in my room,

You know what you did to me.

I count the days to see you,

I’ve lost count of the calendar.

I wanted to find direction in my life,

But I left everything turned upside down.

It already feels like old love,

I’ve only known you for a week.

Every time I’m with you,

Even the little shelter shakes.

I don’t know if I’m lost,

Or if you’re the one turning me around.

You’re at the edge of reason,

My head is spinning.

Oh, tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

Tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

It already feels like old love,

I’ve only known you for a week.

Every time I’m with you,

Even the little shelter shakes.

I don’t know if I’m lost,

Or if you’re the one turning me around.

You’re at the edge of reason,

My head is spinning.

Oh, tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

Tell me, toss your skirt,

Hair in the wind,

And the world stops, just to see you dance.

[Portuguese]

Esta noite eu levo o fato,

Já nem uso o meu boné.

Fazemos como no cinema,

Dá-me um beijo e alça o pé.

Traz o laço no cabelo,

E o sapato salto alto.

Anda lá contar as estrelas,

Que eu já estou apaixonado.

Já parece amor antigo,

Só te conheço há uma semana.

Cada vez que eu estou contigo,

Até a baraca abana.

Eu não sei se estou perdido,

Ou se és tu que me dás a volta.

Estás no cabo do sentido,

Eu tenho a cabeça à roda.

Ai oh, diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Já não me sai da cabeça,

Aquele beijo que me deste.

Anda às voltas no meu quarto,

Sabes lá o que fizeste.

Conto os dias pra te ver,

Já perdi o calendário.

Quis dar rumo à minha vida,

Mas deixei tudo ao contrário.

Já parece amor antigo,

Só te conheço há uma semana.

Cada vez que eu estou contigo,

Até a baraca abana.

Eu não sei se estou perdido,

Ou se és tu que me dás a volta.

Estás no cabo do sentido,

Eu tenho a cabeça à roda.

Ai oh, diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Já parece amor antigo,

Só te conheço há uma semana.

Cada vez que eu estou contigo,

Até a baraca abana.

Eu não sei se estou perdido,

Ou se és tu que me dás a volta.

Estás no cabo do sentido,

Eu tenho a cabeça à roda.

Ai oh, diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Diz, joga a saia,

Cabelo ao vento,

E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - love
beijo /ˈbeʒu/ A2	noun - kiss
cabelo /kaˈbɛlu/ A1	noun - hair
dançar /dɐ̃ˈsaɾ/ A2	verb - to dance
quarto /ˈkwaɾtu/ B1	noun - room, bedroom
perdido /peɾˈdidu/ B2	adjective - lost
volta /ˈvɔltɐ/ B1	noun - turn, return
sentido /sẽˈtʃidu/ B2	noun - sense, meaning, direction
cabeça /kaˈbeθɐ/ A1	noun - head
mundo /ˈmũdu/ A2	noun - world
estrelas /esˈtɾɛlɐs/ A2	noun - stars
calendário /kalẽˈdaɾju/ B2	noun - calendar
salto /ˈsaltu/ B1	noun - jump; heel (shoe)
fato /ˈfatu/ B1	noun - suit (clothing); fact
laço /ˈlasu/ B1	noun - bow, tie (like ribbon)

Key Grammar Structures

• [translate:Já parece amor antigo, Só te conheço há[Já parece amor antigo, Só te conheço há uma semana.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Present tense + 'há' for time expressions meaning 'ago'

  ➔ The phrase uses 'há uma semana' to mean 'a week ago', indicating time passed with 'há'.

• [Eu não sei se estou perdido, Ou se és tu que me dás a volta.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Indirect question with 'se' (if/whether), present indicative

  ➔ 'se' introduces an indirect question meaning 'if', with verbs in the present indicative tense.

• [Dá-me um beijo e alça o pé.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Imperative mood with clitic pronoun in enclitic position

  ➔ 'Dá-me' is imperative 'Give me' with the clitic pronoun 'me' attached after the verb.

• [Anda lá contar as estrelas, Que eu já estou apaixonado.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Imperative verb + subjunctive mood implied, present indicative

  ➔ 'Anda' is an imperative inviting action; the sentence implies subjunctive mood for the following clause.

• [Já não me sai da cabeça, Aquele beijo que me deste.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Present tense with object pronouns; phrasal verb construction

  ➔ 'Não me sai da cabeça' means 'does not leave my mind', with clitic pronouns 'me' used before the verb.

• [Quis dar rumo à minha vida, Mas deixei tudo ao contrário.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Preterite (past) tense of irregular verb + conjunction 'Mas' indicating contrast

  ➔ 'Quis' is the preterite past tense of 'querer', showing completed action; 'Mas' introduces contrast.

• [Estás no cabo do sentido, Eu tenho a cabeça à roda.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Verb estar in present indicative + idiomatic expressions

  ➔ 'Estás no cabo do sentido' means 'you are at the end of your wits', literal use of 'estar' + idiom.

• [Diz, joga a saia, Cabelo ao vento, E o mundo para, para te ver dançar.](pplx://action/translate)

  ➔ Imperative commands, present indicative, infinities, and coordinating conjunctions

  ➔ 'Diz' and 'joga' are imperatives; 'para' repeated acts as conjunction meaning 'stops to'.