Pelos Ares – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Adriana Calcanhotto

Lyrics & Translation

Experience the tender and poetic world of Adriana Calcanhotto's "Pelos Ares." This song offers a beautiful exploration of love's resilience and the intricate process of rebuilding a life together, expressed through evocative Portuguese lyrics. Learning this song provides insight into Brazilian musical culture and the nuanced expression of deep affection.

[English]

I ask you for nothing

But if you happen to ask

For you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do

I keep it all inside me

The house I once sent into the air

And I rebuild it in every detail

Intact and relentless

Here it is

Bicycle, plant, sky

Shelf, bed, and me

Soon everything will be in its place

Here it is

Chocolate, cat, floor

Mirror, light, shorts

In your place to see you arrive

...

I ask you for nothing

But if you happen to ask

For you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do

I keep it all inside me

The house I once sent into the air

And I rebuild it in every detail

Intact and relentless

Here it is

Bicycle, plant, sky

Shelf, bed, and me

Soon everything will be in its place

Here it is

Chocolate, cat, floor

Mirror, light, shorts

In your place to see you arrive

...

[Portuguese]

Não lhe peço nada

Mas se acaso você perguntar

Por você não há o que eu não faça

Guardo inteira em mim

A casa que mandei um dia pelos ares

E a reconstruo em todos os detalhes

Intactos e implacáveis

Eis aqui

Bicicleta, planta, céu

Estante, cama e eu

Logo estará tudo no seu lugar

Eis aqui

Chocolate, gato, chão

Espelho, luz, calção

No seu lugar pra ver você chegar

Não lhe peço nada

Mas se acaso você perguntar

Por você não há o que eu não faça

Guardo inteira em mim

A casa que mandei um dia pelos ares

E a reconstruo em todos os detalhes

Intactos e implacáveis

Eis aqui

Bicicleta, planta, céu

Estante, cama e eu

Logo estará tudo no seu lugar

Eis aqui

Chocolate, gato, chão

Espelho, luz, calção

No seu lugar pra ver você chegar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
casa /ˈkaza/ A1	noun - house
bicicleta /bisiˈkleta/ A1	noun - bicycle
planta /ˈplɐ̃tɐ/ A1	noun - plant
céu /ˈseu/ A1	noun - sky
chocolate /ʃokoˈlate/ A1	noun - chocolate
gato /ˈɡatu/ A1	noun - cat
luz /luz/ A1	noun - light
chão /ʃɐ̃w/ A1	noun - floor/ground
calção /kawˈsɐ̃w/ A2	noun - shorts
reconstruir /ʁekõsˈtɾu(i)ʁ/ B1	verb - to reconstruct
intacto /ĩˈtaktu/ B2	adjective - intact
implacável /ĩplaˈkavel/ B2	adjective - implacable
perguntar /peʁɡũˈtaʁ/ A1	verb - to ask
guardar /ɡwaʁˈdaʁ/ A2	verb - to keep/store
lugar /luˈɡaʁ/ A1	noun - place
estar /esˈtaʁ/ A1	verb - to be (temporary)

Key Grammar Structures

• Não lhe peço nada

  ➔ Indirect Object Pronoun 'lhe'

  ➔ 'Lhe' is an indirect object pronoun. The sentence translates to 'I ask nothing of you'. 'Lhe' refers to the person being spoken to (you).

• Mas se acaso você perguntar

  ➔ Subjunctive mood after 'se' indicating a hypothetical condition.

  ➔ The use of 'perguntar' (subjunctive) after 'se' (if) shows a hypothetical situation. It implies, 'But *if* you happen to ask...'

• Por você não há o que eu não faça

  ➔ Relative clause with subjunctive mood ('faça') after 'o que' expressing uncertainty or generality.

  ➔ The phrase 'o que eu não faça' uses the subjunctive ('faça') because it refers to a general, non-specific thing. It means 'there is nothing that I wouldn't do'.

• Guardo inteira em mim

  ➔ Adverb placement ('inteira') modifying the verb 'guardo'.

  ➔ 'Inteira' means 'entirely' or 'completely'. Its placement emphasizes the completeness of the action of keeping or holding something ('guardo').

• A casa que mandei um dia pelos ares

  ➔ Relative pronoun 'que' introducing a relative clause.

  ➔ 'Que' connects the noun 'casa' (house) to the description 'mandei um dia pelos ares' (I once sent flying through the air). It specifies which house is being referred to.

• E a reconstruo em todos os detalhes

  ➔ Object pronoun 'a' referring back to 'casa'.

  ➔ 'A' is an object pronoun, replacing the noun 'casa' to avoid repetition. The sentence translates to 'And I rebuild it in every detail'.

• Intactos e implacáveis

  ➔ Adjectives agreeing in gender and number with the implied subject (detalhes).

  ➔ 'Intactos' (intact) and 'implacáveis' (unyielding) are masculine plural adjectives, agreeing with the masculine plural noun 'detalhes' (details), which is the implied subject being described.