Maria Joana – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Nuno Ribeiro, Calema, Mariza

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a unique journey, and 'Maria Joana' is a perfect gateway to Portuguese. The song's central theme of 'saudade' offers a deep dive into the heart of Portuguese culture and emotion, a feeling often described as untranslatable. The lyrics, born from a personal story of moving cities for a dream, are relatable and use evocative imagery. The fusion of musical styles from pop to fado makes it a captivating listen, helping you to connect with the rhythm and soul of the Portuguese language.

[English]

And it turned!

Where is that Maria?

I only have this Maria

I came from the north straight to Lisbon

In search of a dream

That I don't even know if it flies

As much as we used to fly

Under the sheets

The francesinha no longer has spice

And that makes me remember the moments

When you bit my lips

After love

I don't know if I can hold on

The time I'm going to stay here

Because you're not here

Because you're not here

The tears will dry

But the longing will continue

In my chest calling

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever by my side

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever by my side

My mother never saw me leave

But every child flies one day

Longing, longing

Mom, take care of her for me

Tell me why you're not here

Maria, without you I'm lost

Longing, longing

Maria, I want to see you

I don't know if I can hold on

The time I'm going to stay here

Because the longing tightens my chest

And it hurts too much (hurts too much)

The tears will dry

But the longing will continue

In my chest calling

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever by my side

Maria Joana (Maria), Maria Joana

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever by my side

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

How many tears have I cried

How many nights have I not slept

Each drop that I shed

Made a river that takes me to you

Maria Joana

Maria Joana (how many tears have I cried)

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever

By my side (how many nights have I not slept)

Maria Joana (oh, Maria)

Maria Joana (each drop that I shed)

Catch the first bus

Come stay forever by my side

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

How many tears have I cried

...

[Portuguese]

E virou!

Onde anda essa Maria?

Eu só tenho essa Maria

Eu vim do norte direto a Lisboa

Atrás de um sonho

Que eu nem sei se voa

Tanto quanto nós voávamos

Debaixo dos lencóis

A francesinha já não tem picante

E isso faz-me lembrar os instantes

Em que tu mordias os meus lábios

Depois do amor

Não sei se vou aguentar

O tempo que vou cá ficar

Porque não estás

Porque não estás aqui

As lágrimas vão secar

Mas a saudade vai continuar

No meu peito a chamar

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre do meu lado

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre do meu lado

Minha mãe nunca me viu partir

Mas todo o filho um dia voa

Saudade, saudade

Mamã cuida dela por mim

Diz-me porque não estás aqui

Maria, sem ti fico à toa

Saudade, saudade

Maria, eu quero-te ver

Não sei se vou aguentar

O tempo que vou cá ficar

Porque a saudade aperta o meu peito

E dói demais (dói demais)

As lágrimas vão secar

Mas a saudade vai continuar

No meu peito a chamar

Maria Joana, Maria Joana

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre do meu lado

Maria Joana (Maria), Maria Joana

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre do meu lado

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Quantas lágrimas chorei

Quantas noites não dormi

Cada gota que eu deitei

Fez um rio que me leva a ti

Maria Joana

Maria Joana (quantas lágrimas chorei)

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre

Do meu lado (quantas noites não dormi)

Maria Joana (ai, Maria)

Maria Joana (cada gota que eu deitei)

Apanha o primeiro autocarro

Vem ficar pra sempre do meu lado

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Maria, Maria, Maria

Maria, Maria, Maria

(Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria)

Quantas lágrimas chorei

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Maria /maˈɾi.ɐ/ A1	noun - a female given name
saudade /sawˈdadʒi/ B2	noun - a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone that one loves
lágrima /ˈlaɡɾimɐ/ B1	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid produced by glands in your eyes
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - a strong feeling of affection and concern towards another
sonho /ˈsõɲu/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
tempo /ˈtẽpu/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future
coração /koɾaˈsɐ̃w/ B1	noun - the organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body
partir /paʁˈtiʁ/ B1	verb - to leave a place or situation
voar /voˈaʁ/ B1	verb - to move through the air using wings
lado /ˈlaðu/ A1	noun - a position to the side of something
primeiro /pɾiˈmeɾu/ A2	adjective - first in order, rank, or importance
ficar /fiˈkaʁ/ A1	verb - to remain in the same place or condition
lembrar /lẽˈbɾaʁ/ B1	verb - to cause someone to remember something
chorar /ʃoˈɾaʁ/ A2	verb - to produce tears as a response to emotion

Key Grammar Structures

• Eu só tenho essa Maria

  ➔ Use of the verb "ter" in the present tense to express possession.

  ➔ "Tenho" is the first person singular form of "ter" in the present tense, meaning "to have" or "possess."

• Apanha o primeiro autocarro

  ➔ Use of the verb "apanhar" in the present tense meaning "to catch" or "to take".

  ➔ "Apanha" is the third person singular present tense of "apanhar," meaning "to catch" or "to take."

• Porque não estás aqui

  ➔ Use of the present tense of "estar" with second person singular "estás" for location or condition.

  ➔ "Estás" is the second person singular present tense of "estar," meaning "to be" (location or condition).

• As lágrimas vão secar

  ➔ Use of the verb "ir" in the present tense + infinitive "secar" to form the near future tense.

  ➔ "Vão" is the third person plural form of "ir" in the present, combined with the infinitive "secar" to indicate a future action.

• Quantas lágrimas chorei

  ➔ Use of the preposition "quantas" to ask about the quantity of tears, and past tense "chorei" of "chorar" to indicate past emotion.

  ➔ "Quantas" asks about the number of tears, and "chorei" is the first person past tense of "chorar," meaning "cried."