Medo – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Amália Rodrigues

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the haunting beauty of Amália Rodrigues' "Medo," a poignant Fado song that delves into the complexities of fear and solitude. Through its evocative lyrics and soulful melody, "Medo" offers a window into Portuguese culture and the expressive power of Fado, inviting listeners to connect with deep human emotions.

[English]

Who sleeps with me at night

Who sleeps with me at night

It's my secret, it's my secret

But if they insist, I tell them

But if they insist, I tell them

The fear lives with me

The fear lives with me

But only the fear, only the fear

And early because it rocks me

And early because it rocks me

In a back-and-forth of loneliness

It speaks in silence

It speaks in silence

With a creaking voice like a furniture

And it disturbs our reason

And it disturbs our reason

Who can scream, who can save me

Who can scream, who can save me

From what's inside me

I even wished I could kill myself

I even wished I could kill myself

But I know he will wait for me

By the end of the bridge

By the end of the bridge

...

[Portuguese]

Quem dorme à noite comigo

Quem dorme à noite comigo

É meu segredo, é meu segredo

Mas se insistirem, lhes digo

Mas se insistirem, lhes digo

O medo mora comigo

O medo mora comigo

Mas só o medo, mas só o medo

E cedo porque me embala

E cedo porque me embala

Num vai-vem de solidão

É com silêncio que fala

É com silêncio que fala

Com voz de móvel que estala

E nos perturba a razão

E nos perturba a razão

Gritar quem pode salvar-me

Gritar quem pode salvar-me

Do que está dentro de mim

Gostava até de matar-me

Gostava até de matar-me

Mas eu sei que ele há-de esperar-me

Ao pé da ponte do fim

Ao pé da ponte do fim

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
medo /ˈme.du/ A2	noun - fear
dormir /dorˈmiʁ/ A1	verb - to sleep
segredo /seˈɡɾe.du/ A2	noun - secret
solidão /soliˈdɐ̃w/ B1	noun - loneliness
silêncio /siˈlẽ.sju/ B1	noun - silence
voz /vɔz/ A1	noun - voice
perturbar /peʁtuʁˈbaʁ/ B2	verb - to disturb
gritar /ɡɾiˈtaʁ/ A2	verb - to shout
salvar /salˈvaʁ/ B1	verb - to save
matar /maˈtaʁ/ B2	verb - to kill
esperar /espeˈʁaʁ/ A2	verb - to wait
ponte /ˈpõ.tʃi/ A1	noun - bridge
fim /fĩ/ A1	noun - end

Key Grammar Structures

• Quem dorme à noite comigo

  ➔ Use of the present indicative tense with the verb 'dormir' to express habitual action.

  ➔ The phrase 'Quem dorme à noite comigo' uses the present indicative to describe a recurring or habitual situation.

• O medo mora comigo

  ➔ Use of the verb 'morar' (to live/reside) in the present tense to indicate a state or condition.

  ➔ The phrase 'O medo mora comigo' employs 'morar' in the present tense to express the persistent presence of 'fear' as a state.

• E nos perturba a razão

  ➔ Use of the definite article 'a' with the noun 'razão' to specify a particular aspect of the mind or rationality.

  ➔ The phrase 'nos perturba a razão' employs the definite article 'a' to specify that 'reason' is the particular aspect being disturbed.

• Gritar quem pode salvar-me

  ➔ Use of the infinitive verb 'salvar' after the modal-like structure 'quem pode' to express potential or ability.

  ➔ The phrase 'quem pode salvar-me' uses the infinitive 'salvar' after 'quem pode' to indicate the possibility or capacity of someone to save.

• Gostava até de matar-me

  ➔ Use of the imperfect tense 'gostava' (from 'gostar') to express a past habitual or conditional desire.

  ➔ The phrase 'Gostava até de matar-me' employs the imperfect tense 'gostava' to express a past, possibly habitual, desire to harm oneself.