Porquê – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Murta

Lyrics & Translation

[Portuguese]

[English]

O profundo sentimento de não saber pra onde vais

That deep feeling of not knowing where you're headed

É sentir um novo mundo enquanto o outro mundo cai

It's feeling a new world while the old one falls apart

Cai a vida, a morte e a sorte abraça aquele que a procura

Life, death, and luck all collapse—embracing those who seek it

Água mole em pedra dura tanto bate até que fura

Soft water on hard stone, keeps hitting until it breaks through

Ruptura da linha fina, que liga a minha noção

The breaking of the fine line that connects to my sense of reality

E o coração já não bate como batia

And my heart no longer beats like it used to

E esta batida abraça a vida

And this heartbeat embraces life

Como se a ferida não fosse sarar

As if the wound wouldn't heal

Perguntei-te porquê?

I asked you why?

Olhei-te nos olhos porque tinha de ser

I looked into your eyes because it had to be

Éramos só nos dois e eu queria saber

We were just the two of us, and I wanted to know

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

Mas tu não queres dizer

But you don't want to say

Quem cala consente, é porque tás a esconder

Silence means consent, because you're hiding something

Pra te ser sincero não tou a perceber, porquê?

Honestly, I don't understand, why?

Porquê, porquê?

Why, why?

Porquê, porquê?

Why, why?

Porquê, porquê?

Why, why?

...

...

Agora não importa aquilo que tu queres

Now it doesn't matter what you want

Ninguém me vai dar aquilo que tu deste

No one will give me what you gave

Mas honestidade é um valor e tu não passaste o teste

But honesty is a value, and you didn't pass the test

Eu já não estou na tua mão

I'm no longer in your hands

Mas preciso duma explicação

But I need an explanation

Porque é que largaste tudo em vão?

Why did you throw everything away in vain?

Perguntei-te porquê?

I asked you why?

Olhei-te nos olhos porque tinha de ser

I looked into your eyes because it had to be

Éramos só nos dois e eu queria saber

We were just the two of us, and I wanted to know

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

Mas tu não queres dizer

But you don't want to say

Quem cala consente, é porque tás a esconder

Silence means consent, because you're hiding something

Pra te ser sincero não tou a perceber, porquê?

Honestly, I don't understand, why?

Porquê? Perguntei-te porquê?

Why? I asked you why?

Olhei-te nos olhos porque tinha de ser

I looked into your eyes because it had to be

Éramos só nos dois e eu queria saber

We were just the two of us, and I wanted to know

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

Mas tu não queres dizer

But you don't want to say

Quem cala consente, é porque tás a esconder

Silence means consent, because you're hiding something

Pra te ser sincero já nem quero saber, porquê?

Honestly, I don't even want to know, why?

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

Porquê, Porquê?

Why, why?

...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sentimento /se.n.tiˈmen.tu/ B1	noun - feeling or emotion
mundo /ˈmũ.du/ A1	noun - world
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life
morte /ˈmɔʁ.tʃi/ A2	noun - death
sorte /ˈsɔʁ.tʃi/ B1	noun - luck or fortune
ferida /feˈɾi.dɐ/ B2	noun - wound or injury
explicação /es.pli.kaˈsɐ̃w/ B2	noun - explanation
olhos /ˈɔʎ.ʊs/ A1	noun - eyes
querer /keˈɾeʁ/ A1	verb - to want
dar /daʁ/ A1	verb - to give
esconder /es.kõˈdeʁ/ B1	verb - to hide
perceber /peʁ.seˈbeʁ/ B1	verb - to understand
honestidade /o.nes.tʃiˈda.dɨ/ B2	noun - honesty
teste /ˈtɛʃ.tʃi/ A2	noun - test
coração /ko.ɾaˈsɐ̃w/ A2	noun - heart

Key Grammar Structures

• porque é que largaste tudo em vão?

  ➔ Use of 'porque é que' to form a question asking 'why' with inversion of subject and verb.

  ➔ This structure is commonly used in European Portuguese to ask questions with an emphasis on 'why'.

• Quem cala consente

  ➔ Proverbial phrase using a third person singular verb 'cala' with the subject 'quem' to express that silence implies consent.

  ➔ This phrase is commonly used to indicate that remaining silent is equivalent to agreeing or giving consent.

• Olhei-te nos olhos

  ➔ Use of the verb 'olhar' in the passato perfeito tense with the pronominal form 'te' to indicate 'I looked into your eyes'.

  ➔ The verb 'olhar' (to look) is conjugated in the past tense, and 'te' is a pronominal object form meaning 'you' (informal).

• A vida, a morte e a sorte abraça aquele que a procura

  ➔ Use of the single verb 'abraça' in the present tense, third person singular, to personify 'life', 'death', and 'luck' as if they can 'embrace'.

  ➔ This personification suggests that life, death, and luck can metaphorically 'embrace' or influence a person.

• Eu já não estou na tua mão

  ➔ Use of the present tense 'estou' (I am) with 'na tua mão' (in your hand) to express a current state of independence or loss of control.

  ➔ This phrase indicates a shift from dependency to independence, emphasizing that control or influence has been lost.

• Porquê, Porquê?

  ➔ Repetition of 'Porquê' as a question marker emphasizing the importance or frustration of asking 'why'.

  ➔ Repetition in questions often expresses strong emotion, emphasis, or frustration in Portuguese-speaking contexts.