Born to Die – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

Lyrics & Translation

[Portuguese]

[English]

Não esperamos que seja perfeito

We don't expect it to be perfect

Só queremos que corra direito

We just want it to run right

Os nossos dias não têm fim

Our days have no end

- Bem-vindo, querido. Começa a trabalhar. [Delta Dawn]: São dias cinzentos

- Welcome, darling. Get to work. - [Delta Dawn]: They are gray days

Está bem, papá.

Okay, Daddy.

[Delta Dawn]: Viver assim faz dissipar qualquer alento

[Delta Dawn]: Living like this dissipates any breath

E a lágrima a cair é do pó pelo ar

And the tear falling is from the dust in the air

O tempo a deixar-se ir e vai devagar

Time letting itself go and going slowly

Nós nascemos para, depois, murchar

We were born to, then, wither

Tal como uma flor, nascemos para murchar

Just like a flower, we were born to wither

Esta canção é tão triste

This song is so sad

Yah, é triste, é

Yeah, it's sad, it is

Mas... a vida às vezes é triste, por isso

But... life is sometimes sad, so

Eu acho que até gosto

I think I even like it

Ai, gostas? Hum!

Oh, you like it? Hum!

Mas é tão... diferente

But it's so... different

Oh, se calhar não sabem que a música serve para ficarmos alegres

Oh, maybe they don't know that music - is for us to be happy

Oh!

Oh!

É horrível!

It's horrible!

O tempo a deixar-se ir e vai devagar

Time letting itself go and going slowly

A angústia a subir, não há como escapar

The anguish rising, there's no escape

Tal como uma flor, nascemos para murchar

Just like a flower, we were born to wither

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
perfeito /pɨɾˈfɐjtu/ B1	adjective - perfect
corra /ˈkoʁɐ/ A2	verb - to run
dias /ˈdi.ɐʃ/ A1	noun - days
fim /fĩ/ A2	noun - end
querido /kɨˈɾidu/ A2	adjective - dear
trabalhar /tɾɐ.bɐˈʎaɾ/ A1	verb - to work
dias /ˈdi.ɐʃ/ A1	noun - days
cinzentos /sĩˈzẽj̃tuʃ/ B1	adjective - gray
viver /viˈveɾ/ A2	verb - to live
dissipar /dis.siˈpaɾ/ B2	verb - to dissipate
alento /ɐˈlẽtu/ B2	noun - breath
lágrima /ˈla.ɡɾi.mɐ/ B1	noun - tear
tempo /ˈtẽpu/ A1	noun - time
nascer /nɐˈseɾ/ A2	verb - to be born
murchar /muɾˈʃaɾ/ B2	verb - to wither
flor /floɾ/ A1	noun - flower
triste /ˈtɾiʃ.tɨ/ A2	adjective - sad
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life
diferente /di.fɨˈɾẽ.tɨ/ A2	adjective - different
música /ˈmu.zi.kɐ/ A1	noun - music
alegre /ɐˈle.ɡɾɨ/ A2	adjective - happy
horrível /uˈʁivɛɫ/ B1	adjective - horrible
angústia /ɐ̃ˈɡuʃ.ti.ɐ/ B2	noun - anguish
escapar /iʃ.kɐˈpaɾ/ B1	verb - to escape

Key Grammar Structures

• Não esperamos que seja perfeito

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Present)

  ➔ The use of "seja" (subjunctive of "ser") indicates a hypothetical or desired situation. The main clause uses "esperamos que" which triggers the subjunctive in the subordinate clause expressing a hope or expectation that something *is* perfect.

• Só queremos que corra direito

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Present) after "queremos que"

  ➔ Similar to the previous line, "corra" (subjunctive of "correr") is used because it follows "queremos que" (we want that). This expresses a desire or wish for something to run smoothly.

• Os nossos dias não têm fim

  ➔ Use of "têm" (plural of "ter") to agree with the subject "os nossos dias".

  ➔ "Têm" is the third-person plural form of the verb "ter" (to have). It correctly agrees with the plural subject "os nossos dias" (our days).

• Está bem, papá.

  ➔ Use of "Está" (present tense of "estar") in a short affirmation.

  ➔ "Está" is the third-person singular form of the verb "estar" (to be - temporary state). Here it's part of the set phrase "Está bem" which means "It's alright/Okay".

• Viver assim faz dissipar qualquer alento

  ➔ Infinitive as Subject; "Fazer" + Infinitive

  ➔ Here, "Viver assim" (living like that) functions as the subject of the sentence. The construction "faz dissipar" (makes dissipate) is a common way to express causation in Portuguese. "Fazer" (to make) followed by an infinitive.

• E a lágrima a cair é do pó pelo ar

  ➔ Prepositional Contraction (de + o = do); Verb "cair" in the infinitive form implying a continuous action

  ➔ "Do" is a contraction of the preposition "de" (of/from) and the masculine article "o" (the). The construction "a lágrima a cair" (the tear falling) uses "cair" in infinitive, emphasizing the action of falling.

• O tempo a deixar-se ir e vai devagar

  ➔ Reflexive Verb in Infinitive Form with Pronoun Placement

  ➔ Here the reflexive verb is "deixar-se ir" (to let oneself go, to pass). The placement of the reflexive pronoun "se" after the infinitive "deixar" is a common pattern. "o tempo a deixar-se ir" (time passing)

• Nós nascemos para, depois, murchar

  ➔ "Para" + Infinitive Expressing Purpose; Adverbial Placement ("depois")

  ➔ The phrase "para murchar" (to wither) expresses the purpose or destiny for which they were born. The adverb "depois" (afterwards, later) is placed between "para" and the infinitive "murchar" for emphasis or stylistic effect. The basic structure is "Nós nascemos para murchar" but the addition of "depois" gives nuance.