Sem Ti – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Paulo Gonzo

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a heartfelt journey with Paulo Gonzo's "Sem Ti," a masterclass in Portuguese lyrical expression that explores profound sadness and longing. This power ballad offers an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the emotional depth of the Portuguese language, with its evocative metaphors and direct, relatable sentiments that resonate universally.

[English]

Sem ti

Life is, a disappointment

Without you

The days are all the same

Without you

My corner is so much darker

Ooooh! Without you

My cries are so much deeper

You left

Without leaving a message

You didn't have

Time to communicate

The scenery became so sad

I feel a huge emptiness

All I have left is to find courage

To overcome the cold

Without you

I confuse love with utopia

Without you

The movie is boring till the end

Without you

No one brings me joy

Ooooh! Without you

You're never far from me

You left

Without leaving a message

You didn't have

Time to communicate

The scenery became so sad

I feel a huge emptiness

All I have left is to find courage

To overcome the cold

The scenery became so sad

I feel a huge emptiness

All I have left is to find courage

To overcome the cold

When I am alone

At dawn's break

I think of us

Sleepless nights

Kisses covering our bare lips

...

[Portuguese]

Sem ti

A vida é, um desencanto

Sem ti

Os dias são todos iguais

Sem ti

É tão mais negro, o meu canto

Ooooh! Sem ti

São mais profundos os meus ais

Tu partiste

Sem deixar mensagem

Não tiveste

Tempo de comunicar

Ficou tão triste a paisagem

Sinto um enorme vazio

Resta-me arranjar coragem

Pra vencer o frio

Sem ti

Confundo amor com utopia

Sem ti

O filme é chato até ao fim

Sem ti

Ninguém me transmite alegria

Ooooh! Sem ti

Tu nunca estás longe de mim

Tu partiste

Sem deixar mensagem

Não tiveste

Tempo de comunicar

Ficou tão triste a paisagem

Sinto um enorme vazio

Resta-me arranjar coragem

Pr'a vencer o frio

Ficou tão triste a paisagem

Sinto um enorme vazio

Resta-me arranjar coragem

Pr'a vencer o frio

Quando estou só

Ao romper da madrugada

Eu penso em nós

Noites sem dormir

Os beijos cobrindo nossos lábios nus

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
desencanto /de.zẽ.ˈkɐ̃.tu/ B2	noun - disillusionment
negro /ˈneɣɾu/ A2	adjective - black
canto /ˈkɐ̃.tu/ B1	noun - song
utopia /u.to.ˈpi.ɐ/ C1	noun - utopia
vazio /vɐ.ˈzi.u/ B1	noun - emptiness
coragem /ko.ɾɐ.ˈʒẽj/ B1	noun - courage
frio /ˈfɾi.u/ A2	noun - cold
madrugada /mɐ.dɾu.ˈɣa.dɐ/ B2	noun - dawn
nus /nuʃ/ B1	adjective - naked
beijos /bɐj.ˈʒuʃ/ A2	noun - kisses
lábios /ˈla.bi.uʃ/ B1	noun - lips
noites /ˈnoj.tɨʃ/ A2	noun - nights
dormir /doɾ.ˈmiɾ/ A2	verb - to sleep
partiste /pɐɾ.ˈtiʃ.tɨ/ B1	verb - you left
mensagem /me.ˈsɐ.ʒẽj/ B1	noun - message
comunicar /kõ.mu.ni.ˈkaɾ/ B2	verb - to communicate

Key Grammar Structures

• Sem ti

  ➔ Absence of 'ne' particle in Portuguese to indicate 'without' or 'lacking'.

  ➔ The phrase 'Sem ti' means 'Without you', illustrating the use of 'Sem' to express lack or absence.

• A vida é, um desencanto

  ➔ Use of the definite article 'a' with nouns to specify 'the life'.

  ➔ The phrase 'A vida é' uses the definite article to mean 'Life is'.

• Os dias são todos iguais

  ➔ Use of 'todos' meaning 'all' with 'os dias' to emphasize universality.

  ➔ 'Todos' means 'all' and is used to indicate totality or universality in this context.

• Ficou tão triste a paisagem

  ➔ Use of the preterite 'ficou' to express a completed change or state.

  ➔ 'Ficou' is the preterite form of 'ficar', indicating a completed change resulting in being 'sad' or ' triste'.

• Não tiveste Tempo de comunicar

  ➔ Use of the preterite 'tiveste' for 'tu' (you singular informal) in past tense.

  ➔ 'Tiveste' is the simple past form of 'ter' (to have) for 'tu', indicating past possession or experience.

• Sinto um enorme vazio

  ➔ Use of the verb 'sinto' in the present indicative to express feelings.

  ➔ 'Sinto' is the first person singular of 'sentir' in the present, expressing the speaker's feelings of emptiness.