Andorinhas – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Ana Moura
• Album: Casa Guilhermina

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about more than just words; it's about understanding a culture's heart and soul. Ana Moura's “Andorinhas” offers a beautiful gateway into the Portuguese language and its rich musical traditions. Through its poetic lyrics about freedom and renewal, you can learn expressive vocabulary and metaphors. What makes this song truly special is its fusion of classic Fado with modern and African influences, reflecting a contemporary Portugal that is both deeply rooted in its heritage and openly embracing the world. Let the journey of the 'andorinhas' (swallows) inspire your own language learning journey!

[English]

I spend my days in long lines

In villages, towns, and cities

The swallows are the true queens

Flying the lines of freedom

I want to get my feet off the ground

I want to fly out of here and leave by plane

And only come back someday

I'll put my suitcase in the hold

Savor the spring while waiting at the station

One day, a swallow said

Daughter, the world spins, use the breeze to your advantage

Life tells lies

But the sun gives warning before it sets

...

I want to get my feet off the ground

I want to fly out of here and leave by plane

And only come back someday

I'll put my suitcase in the hold

Savor the spring while waiting at the station

My mother used to say

Release your wings, turn your back

Be strong, advance towards the sea

Climb hills, make bets

On luck and not on misfortune

...

[Portuguese]

Passo os meus dias em longas filas

Em aldeias, vilas e cidades

As andorinhas é que são rainhas

A voar as linhas da liberdade

Eu quero tirar os pés do chão

Quero voar daqui p'ra fora e ir embora de avião

E só voltar um dia

Vou pôr a mala no porão

Saborear a primavera numa espera e na estação

Um dia disse uma andorinha

Filha, o mundo gira, usa a brisa a teu favor

A vida diz mentiras

Mas o sol avisa antes de se pôr

Eu quero tirar os pés do chão

Quero voar daqui p'ra fora e ir embora de avião

E só voltar um dia

Vou pôr a mala no porão

Saborear a primavera numa espera e na estação

Já a minha mãe dizia

Solta as asas, volta as costas

Sê forte, avança p'ra o mar

Sobe encostas, faz apostas

Na sorte e não no azar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dias /ˈdi.ɐs/ A1	noun - days
aldeias /ɐɫˈdɐj.ɐʃ/ A2	noun - villages
vilas /ˈvi.lɐʃ/ A2	noun - towns
cidades /siˈða.dɨʃ/ A1	noun - cities
andorinhas /ɐ̃.duˈɾi.ɲɐʃ/ B1	noun - swallows
rainhas /ʁɐˈi.ɲɐʃ/ A2	noun - queens
voar /vuˈaɾ/ A2	verb - to fly
linhas /ˈli.ɲɐʃ/ A1	noun - lines
liberdade /li.bɨɾˈda.dɨ/ B1	noun - freedom
pés /pɛʃ/ A1	noun - feet
chão /ʃɐ̃w̃/ A1	noun - ground
avião /ɐˈvjɐ̃w̃/ A1	noun - airplane
mala /ˈma.lɐ/ A1	noun - suitcase
porão /puˈɾɐ̃w̃/ B2	noun - hold
primavera /pɾi.mɐˈvɛ.ɾɐ/ A2	noun - spring
espera /ɨʃˈpe.ɾɐ/ B1	noun - wait
mundo /ˈmũ.du/ A1	noun - world
brisa /ˈbɾi.zɐ/ B2	noun - breeze
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life
sol /sɔɫ/ A1	noun - sun
asas /ˈa.zɐʃ/ A2	noun - wings
mar /maɾ/ A1	noun - sea
sorte /ˈsɔɾ.tɨ/ A2	noun - luck
azar /ɐˈzaɾ/ B1	noun - chance, luck