Reflection – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Carla de Sá, Anabela Pires
• Album: Mulan

Lyrics & Translation

[Portuguese]

[English]

Eu sei bem

I know well

Que não poderei ser a perfeição

That I can't be perfect

De noiva ou de filha

As a bride or daughter

Mas também

But also

Será este o meu papel?

Is this my role?

Vejo bem

I see clearly

Se for na verdade o que eu sou

If it’s truly what I am

Só farei a todos mal

I will only hurt everyone

Ó, quem és tu aí?

Oh, who are you?

A olhar para mim

Looking at me

Este meu reflexo é de alguém

This reflection of mine is someone

Não meu

Not me

Mas não vou esconder o que sou

But I won't hide who I am

Eu tentei

I’ve tried

E se o meu reflexo for

And if my reflection is

O que só eu sei

What only I know

É que o meu reflexo só uma alma tem

It’s that my reflection is only one soul

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
reflexo /ʁe.fleʃu/ B2	noun - reflection; image seen in a mirror or surface
alma /ˈal.mɐ/ B2	noun - soul
pôr /poɾ/ B2	verb - to put, to place
perfeição /peʁ.fe.a'sɐ̃w̃/ C1	noun - perfection; state of being perfect
papel /paˈpew/ A2	noun - role, part, function
verdade /veʁ.daˈdɐ/ B2	noun - truth
esconder /ʃkõˈ deɾ/ B2	verb - to hide
mostrar /mõs'tɾar/ B1	verb - to show
caminho /kɐˈmi.ɲu/ A2	noun - path, way
luz /luʃ/ A2	noun - light
sonho /ˈsõ.ɲu/ B1	noun - dream
tentarei /tẽ.tɾɐˈɾe/ C1	verb - I will try

Key Grammar Structures

• Que não poderei ser a perfeição

  ➔ Use of the future tense with 'poder' + infinitive to express possibility or capability in the future.

  ➔ The phrase 'não poderei' combines the negative form of the verb 'poder' in the future tense with the infinitive to indicate inability or impossibility in the future.

• Será este o meu papel?

  ➔ Use of the verb 'ser' in the future tense ('será') with the definite article 'este' to form a question about identity or role.

  ➔ The phrase 'Será este o meu papel?' is a question formed with the future tense of 'ser' ('será') and the pronoun 'este' to ask if this is 'my role' or 'my part'.

• Só farei a todos mal

  ➔ Use of 'fazer' in the future tense ('farei') with a direct object 'a todos' and an indirect object 'mal' to express an action that will harm others.

  ➔ The verb 'fazer' in 'farei' is in the future tense, indicating an action that will be done by the speaker. 'A todos mal' means 'harm everyone', showing the negative impact.

• Só uma alma tem

  ➔ Use of the verb 'ter' in the present tense ('tem') to indicate possession of 'uma alma' (a soul).

  ➔ The verb 'ter' in 'tem' is in the present tense, showing possession or existence of 'uma alma' (a soul).

• E se o meu reflexo for

  ➔ Use of 'se' to introduce a conditional clause ('if') and 'for' in the subjunctive mood ('for') to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation.

  ➔ The word 'se' introduces a conditional clause meaning 'if', and 'for' is in the subjunctive mood, reflecting a hypothetical or uncertain possibility.