Os Búzios – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Ana Moura
• Album: Para Além da Saudade

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the soulful Fado of Ana Moura with "Os Búzios," a song rich in Portuguese culture and emotion. Learn about the symbolic use of 'búzios' (seashells) in divination and how they represent hope for changing one's destiny and finding love. This track offers a glimpse into the mystical side of Fado, connecting listeners to themes of fate and spiritual seeking.

[English]

There was the solitude of prayer in her sad gaze

As if her eyes were the doors to weeping

The sign of the cross that persists, fingers against the evil eye

And the cowrie shells that the old woman threw over an old cloak

A great love lies in wait but keeps its secret

Empty is your heart on the edge of fear

See how the shells have fallen facing north

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

There was an intense despair in her voice

The room smelled of incense, and a few more powders

The old woman waved the handkerchief, folded it, tied two knots in it

And her holy father spoke using her voice

A great love lies in wait but keeps its secret

Empty is your heart on the edge of fear

See how the shells have fallen facing north

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

A great love lies in wait but keeps its secret

Empty is your heart on the edge of fear

See how the shells have fallen facing north

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

For I will stir destiny, I will change your fate

...

[Portuguese]

Havia a solidão da prece no olhar triste

Como se os seus olhos fossem as portas do pranto

Sinal da cruz que persiste, os dedos contra o quebranto

E os búzios que a velha lançava sobre um velho manto

À espreita está um grande amor mas guarda segredo

Vazio tens o teu coração na ponta do medo

Vê como os búzios caíram virados p'ra norte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Havia um desespero intenso na sua voz

O quarto cheirava a incenso, mais uns quantos pós

A velha agitava o lenço, dobrou-o, deu-lhe dois nós

E o seu padre santo falou usando-lhe a voz

À espreita está um grande amor mas guarda segredo

Vazio tens o teu coração na ponta do medo

Vê como os búzios caíram virados p'ra norte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

À espreita está um grande amor mas guarda segredo

Vazio tens o teu coração na ponta do medo

Vê como os búzios caíram virados p'ra norte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
solidão /sɔliˈdaʊ̯̃/ B2	noun - solitude, loneliness
olhar /ɔˈʎaɾ/ A2	noun - look, gaze verb - to look, to gaze
triste /ˈtɾiʃ.tɨ/ A2	adjective - sad
olhos /ˈɔ.ʎuʃ/ A1	noun - eyes
portas /ˈpɔɾ.tɐʃ/ A1	noun - doors
pranto /ˈpɾɐ̃.tu/ B2	noun - weeping, crying
sinal /siˈnal/ A2	noun - sign, signal
dedos /ˈde.duʃ/ A1	noun - fingers
búzios /ˈbu.zi.uʃ/ B2	noun - cowrie shells (used for divination)
velha /ˈvɛ.ʎɐ/ A2	noun - old woman adjective - old
manto /ˈmɐ̃.tu/ B2	noun - mantle, cloak
espreita /iʃˈpɾɐj.tɐ/ C1	noun - lookout, ambush
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
segredo /sɨˈɣɾe.du/ B1	noun - secret
vazio /vɐˈzi.u/ B1	adjective - empty
coração /ku.ɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ A2	noun - heart
medo /ˈme.du/ A2	noun - fear
destino /dɨʃˈti.nu/ B1	noun - destiny, fate
sorte /ˈsɔɾ.tɨ/ A2	noun - luck
voz /vɔʃ/ A2	noun - voice

Key Grammar Structures

• Havia a solidão da prece no olhar triste

  ➔ Imperfect tense (Havia) to indicate past existence or ongoing state

  ➔ 'Havia' is used for describing something that existed or was ongoing in the past

• Vê como os búzios caíram virados p'ra norte

  ➔ Preterite tense (caíram) indicating completed past action

  ➔ 'Caíram' is the past simple form of 'caírem', meaning 'they fell', indicating a completed action

• Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

  ➔ Futuro proche (vou) to express intention or future action

  ➔ 'Vou' is used with the infinitive verb to indicate a planned or near-future action

• À espreita está um grande amor mas guarda segredo

  ➔ Present indicative tense (está, guarda) to state current truths

  ➔ 'Está' and 'guarda' are present tense forms used to describe ongoing states or truths

• Pois eu vou mexer o destino, vou mudar-te a sorte

  ➔ Future tense (vou) + infinitive to express planned actions

  ➔ 'Vou' is combined with the infinitive to form near-future plans or intentions