Saudade – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Karetus, Romeu Bairos

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the evocative Portuguese word 'Saudade' through this captivating song by Karetus and Romeu Bairos. Discover a unique blend of electronic beats and soulful Fado, learn about the emotional depth of longing, and experience a piece of Portuguese culture that resonates universally.

[English]

It arrived on a cold night

When my soul was suffering

When longing lived

When the rain was falling

There was no one on the street

No fado singer was singing

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

My love

The distance that separated us

Our life, our life

My love

Tears the mask that suffocated

Our life, our life

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

Longing comes and goes

...

[Portuguese]

Chegou na noite fria

Em que minh'alma sofria

Em que a saudade morava

Em que a chuva caía

Na rua ninguém havia

Nenhum fadista cantava

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Meu amor

A distância que nos separou

A nossa vida, a nossa vida

Meu amor

Rasga a máscara que sufocou

A nossa vida, a nossa vida

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Vira e volta a saudade

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
saudade /sawˈda.dɨ/ B2	noun - a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something or someone that is absent
alma /ˈal.mɐ/ B1	noun - soul
chuva /ˈʃu.vɐ/ A2	noun - rain
noite /nɔi̯.t(ɨ)/ A2	noun - night
fado /ˈfa.du/ B2	noun - a genre of Portuguese music characterized by melancholic tunes and lyrics
coração /kɐ.ʁɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ B2	noun - heart
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A2	noun - love
distância /dʃisˈtã.si.ɐ/ B2	noun - distance
máscara /ˈmɐs.kɐ.ɾɐ/ B2	noun - mask
separar /sɨ.pəˈɾaɾ/ B1	verb - to separate, to divide
sufocar /su.fɔˈkaɾ/ C1	verb - to suffocate, to choke

Key Grammar Structures

• Chegou na noite fria

  ➔ Preposition 'na' (a + a + definite article)

  ➔ 'na' is a contraction of 'em' (in/on/at) and 'a' (the).

• Vira e volta a saudade

  ➔ The phrase 'vira e volta' (turns around, back and forth) used as an adverbial expression.

  ➔ 'Vira e volta' is a Portuguese idiomatic expression meaning 'turns around' or 'back and forth'.

• A distância que nos separou

  ➔ Clausal noun phrase with relative pronoun 'que' introducing a relative clause

  ➔ 'Que' functions as a relative pronoun, linking the noun 'distância' with the relative clause 'nos separou' (separated us).

• Rasga a máscara que sufocou

  ➔ Verb 'rasga' (tear) in the present tense, and relative clause 'que sufocou' (that suffocated)

  ➔ 'Rasga' is the imperative or present indicative form of 'rasgar' (to tear). 'Que sufocou' is a relative clause describing the mask that suffocated.