Canção do Mar – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Dulce Pontes
• Album: Lágrimas

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the soulful melodies of "Canção do Mar" by Dulce Pontes. This iconic fado song, deeply rooted in Portuguese culture, offers a poignant expression of longing and resilience. By listening to this track, you can connect with the emotional depth of the Portuguese language and the rich heritage of fado music.

[English]

I went dancing on my little boat

Beyond the cruel sea

And the raging sea

Says I came to steal

The unmatched light

From your beautiful gaze

Come see if the sea is right

Come see my heart dance

If I dance on my little boat

I won't go to the cruel sea

And I won't tell where I went to sing

To smile, dance, live, dream with you

Come see if the sea is right

Come see my heart dance

If I dance on my little boat

I won't go to the cruel sea

And I won't tell where I went to sing

To smile, dance, live, dream with you

...

[Portuguese]

Fui bailar no meu batel

Além do mar cruel

E o mar bramindo

Diz que eu fui roubar

A luz sem par

Do teu olhar tão lindo

Vem saber se o mar terá razão

Vem cá ver bailar meu coração

Se eu bailar no meu batel

Não vou ao mar cruel

E nem lhe digo aonde eu fui cantar

Sorrir, bailar, viver, sonhar contigo

Vem saber se o mar terá razão

Vem cá ver bailar meu coração

Se eu bailar no meu batel

Não vou ao mar cruel

E nem lhe digo aonde eu fui cantar

Sorrir, bailar, viver, sonhar contigo

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mar /maɾ/ A2	noun - sea
batel /bɐˈtɛɫ/ B1	noun - small boat or vessel
olhar /oʎˈaɾ/ B2	noun, verb - look / gaze
luz /luʃ/ A2	noun - light
razão /ɾaˈzãw/ B1	noun - reason / logic
cantar /kɐ̃ˈtaɾ/ A2	verb - to sing
sonhar /sõˈʎaɾ/ B1	verb - to dream
viver /viˈveɾ/ B1	verb - to live
bailar /bɐiˈlaɾ/ A2	verb - to dance
cruel /kɾuˈɛw/ B2	adjective - cruel / harsh
lindo /ˈlĩdu/ A2	adjective - pretty / beautiful

Key Grammar Structures

• Vem saber se o mar terá razão

  ➔ Use of the subjunctive mood after 'se' to express doubt or possibility.

  ➔ 'Vem saber' introduces a clause with uncertainty, requiring the subjunctive mood 'terá' instead of indicative 'tem'.

• Se eu bailar no meu batel

  ➔ Use of the subjunctive after 'se' to indicate a hypothetical or conditional action.

  ➔ The phrase 'Se eu bailar' introduces a hypothetical situation, with 'bailar' in the subjunctive mood to match the conditional context.

• E nem lhe digo aonde eu fui cantar

  ➔ Use of double negation 'nem' with a verb to emphasize negation.

  ➔ The phrase 'E nem lhe digo' employs double negation 'nem' for emphasis, with 'lhe digo' meaning 'I tell him/her'.

• Vem cá ver bailar meu coração

  ➔ Imperative form 'Vem cá ver' used to give a command or invitation.

  ➔ The phrase 'Vem cá ver' is an imperative form meaning 'Come here to see', used to encourage someone to observe or understand.

• Se eu bailar no meu batel

  ➔ Conditional clause with the subjunctive 'bailar' indicating a hypothetical action.

  ➔ The phrase 'Se eu bailar' sets up a hypothetical situation, with 'bailar' in the subjunctive mood to denote an unreal or conditional action.