Pumada de Bambatulo – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Cheto Icamaram, Plavnais King

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the music of Guinea-Bissau with 'Pumada de Bambatulo' by Cheto Icamaram and Plavnais King. While the full lyrical meaning is yet to be widely translated, the intriguing title offers a glimpse into the rich metaphors of Guinean Creole. This song provides a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the sounds and linguistic nuances of this West African nation's vibrant music scene.

[English]

Baby, don’t keep me waiting

Oh! Pure love has no time, come in

Leave your little problems outside

Baby, wipe away those tears, don’t cry

My canoe won’t sail without you

Give me the water I’ve been longing for, don’t hold back

Don’t let insults keep us apart

To reach me, baby, it’s a long journey

Even if you build walls, I won’t let you go

Against a mountain that doesn’t yield, someone with purpose prevails

And beyond the shadow of famine, I won’t live there

That stops memories, baby, let’s not argue

Listen, open a path, the smoke of Bambatulo

If you hear your name, stay still like everyone else

I’ve already caught the spirit of the San Djudas fountain

Even if you build walls, I won’t let you go

Against enemies that don’t yield, someone with purpose prevails

And don’t just promise, empty words

Give me my rightful place

I’ll do everything to make you happy, baby, don’t ignore me

Feel my strength if you’re with me, baby, it’s in your interest

A rich man with purpose, I won’t destroy

Listen, life and race, but don’t betray

Love and a house with a woman, but no husband

Enemies lag behind, I won’t look back, they don’t move forward

Listen, in the pit of the code and buildings without melody

Love is a feeling of energy

I’ll stay like a couple in the best company

I’ve decided, I won’t chase you, baby, every day

Baby, don’t keep me waiting

Oh! Pure love has no time, come in

Leave your little problems outside

Baby, wipe away those tears, don’t cry

Listen, open a path, the smoke of Bambatulo

If you hear your name, stay still like everyone else

I’ve already caught the spirit of the San Djudas fountain

Even if you build walls, I won’t let you go

Against enemies that don’t yield, someone with purpose prevails

Listen, I don’t need to buy an expensive world for little return

Even if I give you all my palms, you won’t call me yours

You’re a perfect 10, the best, and can’t be bought

There’s no one who can speak ill of you

I won’t take from you to give you clothes, food, or drink

But your love, baby, let me say I won’t pay blessings, I won’t pay debts

I’ll wait for your love

To tell your beautiful story

Lift your head, don’t cry, don’t let anyone take away your joy

And don’t carry what’s already passed, what’s passed is gone

Don’t lift your hunger, so we don’t lose our way, purify and give me your love

You’re the God who gives me good, I’ll take care of you, so no one can touch your love

You’re the blessing I have, so I’ll protect you, no one can come near me

I’ve decided we’ll stay together, but you’re mine, you’re mine

So I’m not called a thief, I’ve decided to give you satisfaction

I’ll make a plan, I won’t ask for more than you

Don’t leave me, don’t go-go

Your body gives me energy, I’ll go for you like a bad lotto

I want you to save me a photo now, because of you, I’m in love

I’ll keep your mind for you, baby, to see you soon

My canoe won’t sail without you

Give me the water I’ve been longing for, don’t hold back

Don’t let insults keep us apart

To reach me, baby, it’s a long journey

Even if you build walls, I won’t let you go

Against a mountain that doesn’t yield, someone with purpose prevails

And beyond the shadow of famine, I won’t live there

That stops memories, baby, let’s not argue

Listen, open a path, the smoke of Bambatulo

If you hear your name, stay still like everyone else

I’ve already caught the spirit of the San Djudas fountain

Even if you build walls, I won’t let you go

Against enemies that don’t yield, someone with purpose prevails

[Portuguese]

baby, n’ka bu dimora

Oh! Amor puru ka tene ora, entra

Prublemasinhu dixa fora

Bebe, linpa larma gora, ka bu txora

Nha kanua n’ka ja na da bu purt

Dabu iagu ku n’lata la pa n’kupa

Pa n’sa na fika si n’putis insultu

Pa tchiga na mi, baby, i un kaminhu kurtu

Di un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

Kontra um munti ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

I purdi tras di suma omi di fomi no na vivi na la

Isso impidi mimoria, baby, pa n’ka diskisi

Pabia, abri un sumisu di for, fumada di bambatulo

Si n’obi bu nomi, dja fika suma n’tud

Dja n’fututu panha iagu di fonti di San Djudas

Pa un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

Kontra eris ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

I ka so promesa, palavras vazias

Prumitim diritu na mi n’disa

N’kustu i tud bobu pa bu da feliz, baby, ka bu kunbersa

Forsa n’tene ta sintis si bu sta ku mi, baby, ku n’teressa

Un riki nisis ku misti, n’distruiu

Pabia, bida i rasa, mansi ka pudi djudas

No amor i un kaza ku tene mudjer, mas ka tene maridu

Inimigu atrasa, no ka na ripa tras, djanti no na baza

Pabia, na pitu di kode i ten batimentu ku na melodia

Amor i un sentimentu di energia

N’fika suma un kupe na bukinha midjor kumpanhia

N’disidi pa i un ten, pa n’ka persigi, baby, tudu dia

Bebe, n’ka bu dimora

Oh! Amor puru ka tene ora, entra

Prublemasinhu dixa fora

Bebe, linpa larma gora, ka bu txora

Pabia, abri un sumisu di for, fumada di bambatulo

Si n’obi bu nomi, dja fika suma n’tud

Dja n’fututu panha iagu di fonti di San Djudas

Pa un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

Kontra eris ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

Pabia, n’ka misti kumpra un mundu karu pa risibi poku

Pa dipus n’da bu tud palma, bu na txoman di lok

Abo i nota 10, abo i midjor, i ka na merka

I ka tene un pres ku pudi fala di bu mor

N’podi tira na mi pa n’da bu pa bu bisti, pa bu kumi, pa bu bibi

Ma bu amor, baby, les mi n’ka ta paga bles, mi n’paga ples

N’atindi pa bo di no lobu

Pa n’konta bu storia bonita

Ialsa kara, k’o npina, k’o pirmiti ninguin pa e tirau un spina

I ka na agu ku na pasa dja pur’dja, pur’dja di bobi n’ka sa

Na labanta bu fomi, pa n’perde jantor, nundun ku purifika na sa na da bu amor

Abo i Dios ku da n’bon, n’paga kuida di bo, pa n’ka disan ninguin tokan bu amor

Abo i bensan ku ten na mi, pa n’da n’ximola pa n’ka disan ninguin txiga perto di mi

N’disidi pa nu sta djuntu, ma bu na mi, bu na mi

Pa n’ka txoman di ladron, n’disidi pa n’da bu satisfason

N’paga un plano, n’ka di mas di bo

Don’t leave me, don’t go-go

Your body gimme ginger, n’ta go for you like a bad loto

I want now you to save me a photo, cause of you, n’teni un kolo

N’ten your mind for you, baby, to see you so soon

Nha kanua n’ka ja na da bu purt

Dabu iagu ku n’lata la pa n’kupa

Pa n’sa na fika si n’putis insultu

Pa tchiga na mi, baby, i un kaminhu kurtu

Di un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

Kontra um munti ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

I purdi tras di suma omi di fomi no na vivi na la

Isso impidi mimoria, baby, pa n’ka diskisi

Pabia, abri un sumisu di for, fumada di bambatulo

Si n’obi bu nomi, dja fika suma n’tud

Dja n’fututu panha iagu di fonti di San Djudas

Pa un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

Kontra eris ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - love
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a young child noun - a term of endearment
ten /tɛn/ A1	verb - to have
fika /ˈfikɐ/ A2	verb - to stay, to remain
buli /ˈbuli/ B1	noun - move, action
misti /ˈmiʃti/ B1	verb - to want
fomi /ˈfɔmi/ A2	noun - hunger, starvation
kaminhu /kɐˈmiɲu/ B1	noun - path, way
kurtu /ˈkuɾtu/ A2	adjective - short
sumisu /suˈmizu/ B2	noun - smile
palavras /pɐˈlavɾɐʃ/ A2	noun - words
bida /ˈbiða/ A1	noun - life
feliz /fɨˈliʃ/ A1	adjective - happy
energia /eɾʒiˈa/ B1	noun - energy
inimigu /iniˈmiɡu/ A2	noun - enemy
sentimento /sẽtiˈmẽtu/ B1	noun - feeling
kumpanhia /kũpɐˈɲia/ B1	noun - company

Key Grammar Structures

• baby, n’ka bu dimora

  ➔ Negative imperative

  ➔ The phrase "n’ka bu dimora" uses a negative imperative to command the listener not to delay or hesitate, emphasizing urgency in Creole speech.

• Nha kanua n’ka ja na da bu purt

  ➔ Future tense with auxiliary

  ➔ Here, "na" indicates future action, as in "my canoe will take you", showing commitment in Creole narrative.

• Dabu iagu ku n’lata la pa n’kupa

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The sentence "Dabu iagu ku n’lata la pa n’kupa" describes a habitual or ongoing action without time markers, emphasizing loyalty in Creole.

• Pa n’sa na fika si n’putis insultu

  ➔ Conditional with 'si'

  ➔ This uses "si" for a hypothetical condition, meaning "if you can insult me", exploring relational dynamics in Creole poetry.

• Un buli manti pudi bin pa n’ka tiran di bo

  ➔ Past modal with 'pudi'

  ➔ The phrase "Un buli manti pudi bin" expresses possibility in the past with "pudi", illustrating protective intent in Creole.

• Kontra eris ku na otene dja un alguin ku misti

  ➔ Past perfect aspect

  ➔ Here, "dja" with "otene" indicates a completed past action, like "enemies who have already obtained", adding drama in Creole storytelling.

• Pabia, abri un sumisu di for, fumada di bambatulo

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The command "abri" directly instructs opening something, symbolizing emotional release in Creole culture.

• Si n’obi bu nomi, dja fika suma n’tud

  ➔ Hypothetical conditional

  ➔ With "Si", it sets up a contrary-to-fact scenario, "If I heard your name, it would stay with me", conveying longing in Creole lyrics.