Deixa Ser – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: David Fonseca, Márcia

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a beautiful journey, and "Deixa Ser" by David Fonseca and Márcia is a perfect companion for those exploring Portuguese. This emotive pop duet not only introduces you to the beautiful phonetics of the language but also to the deeply cultural concept of 'saudade' – a feeling of longing and melancholy that is a cornerstone of Portuguese expression. The song's conversational style between two of Portugal's acclaimed artists offers a unique way to understand dialogue and emotional expression in the language, making the learning process both meaningful and memorable.

[English]

Where are you, make a sound

Call my name in tune or out of tune

Tell me you keep a little of me

In your wallet a picture, a flower in the garden

The season has already changed

They took the furniture and the sun has closed there

Where did it go, to nowhere

Such a deserted place, this common place

Leaves fall in the bigger book

And time runs to dry them inside

Let it be, let it be

Everything goes in an instant

Tomorrow, without knowing

It will seem so distant

All that’s left is to fall asleep

And dream without seeing you

Once again

Don’t look for my startled face

That’s not me anymore

Mystery of love

I betrayed the heart

I opened it in half to let you out

Where did you go, who knows where it goes

Lost inside dragging through time

Let it be, let it be

Everything goes in an instant

Tomorrow, without knowing

It will seem so distant

All that’s left is to fall asleep

And dream without seeing you

Once again

Without seeing you once again

Let it be, let it be

Everything goes in an instant

Tomorrow, without knowing

It will seem so distant

And when nothing remains

I will fall asleep

And maybe I will dream, dream

Just to see you

Just to see you

Where are you, make a sound

Call my name in tune or out of tune

Tell me you keep a little of me

In your wallet a picture, a flower in the garden

...

[Portuguese]

Onde estás, faz um som

Chama o meu nome dentro ou fora de tom

Diz-me que guardas um pouco de mim

Na carteira um retrato, uma flor no jardim

A estação já mudou

Levaram os móveis e o sol lá fechou

Para onde foi, para lado nenhum

Lugar tão deserto esse lugar comum

Caem as folhas no livro maior

E corre o tempo a secá-las lá dentro

Deixa estar, deixa ser

Tudo vai num instante

Amanhã, sem saber

Vai parecer tão distante

Resta só adormecer

E sonhar sem te ver

Outra vez

Não procures o meu rosto espantado

Essa já não sou eu

Mistério do amor

O coração fui trair

Abri-o ao meio pra te deixar sair

Para onde foste, quem sabe onde vai

Perdido lá dentro a arrastar-se no tempo

Deixa estar, deixa ser

Tudo vai num instante

Amanhã, sem saber

Vai parecer tão distante

Resta só adormecer

E sonhar sem te ver

Outra vez

Sem te ver outra vez

Deixa estar, deixa ser

Tudo vai num instante

Amanhã, sem saber

Vai parecer tão distante

E quando nada restar

Vou adormecer

E talvez vá sonhar, sonhar

Só pra te ver

Só pra te ver

Onde estás, faz um som

Chama o meu nome dentro ou fora de tom

Diz-me que guardas um pouco de mim

Na carteira um retrato, uma flor no jardim

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
guardas /ɡwarˈdaʁ/ B1	verb - to keep or preserve
retrato /xe.tɾaˈtu/ B1	noun - portrait
flor /floɾ/ A2	noun - flower
mudanças /muˈdɐ̃sɐʃ/ B2	noun - changes
sol /sɔw/ A2	noun - sun
tempo /ˈtɛ̃pʊ/ A2	noun - time
estação /ɨʃtɐˈsɐ̃w/ B1	noun - station or season
móveis /ˈmo.vɛjʃ/ B2	noun - furniture
caminho /kɐˈmiɲu/ A2
deserto /dɨˈzɛʁtu/ B2
mistério /misˈtɛɾiu/ B2	noun - mystery
coração /kɐɾɐˈsɐ̃w/ B1	noun - heart
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - love
traír /tɾiˈaɾ/ B2

Key Grammar Structures

• Na carteira um retrato

  ➔ Use of indefinite article 'a' or 'an' with nouns

  ➔ Indicates an unspecified object, here, 'a' is used before 'retrato' meaning 'a portrait'.

• Levaram os móveis e o sol lá fechou

  ➔ Use of past tense to indicate completed actions

  ➔ The verb 'levaram' is in past tense, indicating that 'they took' the furniture and the sun has gone away or stopped shining.

• Deixa estar, deixa ser

  ➔ Imperative form expressing permission or advice

  ➔ 'Deixa estar' and 'deixa ser' are imperative phrases meaning 'let it be' or 'leave it alone'.

• Vai parecer tão distante

  ➔ Use of the future tense 'vai' with infinitive to express a future perception or expectation

  ➔ The phrase 'Vai parecer' uses the future tense 'vai' + infinitive 'parecer' to express that something will seem or appear in the future.

• Vou adormecer

  ➔ First person singular future tense 'vou' + infinitive 'adormecer'

  ➔ The phrase 'Vou adormecer' indicates 'I will fall asleep', formed by the auxiliary 'vou' (I go to) + infinitive 'adormecer' to express a future action.

• Resta só adormecer

  ➔ Use of 'resta' (it remains) + infinitive to indicate a remaining action or state

  ➔ The phrase 'Resta só adormecer' uses 'resta' (it remains) + infinitive 'adormecer', meaning 'only to fall asleep' or 'nothing else remains but to sleep'.

• Outra vez

  ➔ Repeated adverbial phrase meaning 'again' or 'once more'

  ➔ The phrase 'Outra vez' means 'again' or 'once more', expressing the desire or expectation of repetition.