Sônia

• By: Agnes Nunes, Xamã

Lyrics:

[Português]

[English]

Quando a gente ama, a gente blefa

When we love, we bluff

Mas, na verdade, cê tá fudido numa mesa de poker

But honestly, you're screwed at a poker table

Prestes a fazer a aposta errada

About to make the wrong bet

Ela me ofereceu um cigarro e eu fumei por educação

She offered me a cigarette, I smoked out of politeness

Eu quase disse: Querida, eu te amo

I nearly said: Darling, I love you

Mas só olhei pro quadro do Monet

But I just looked at the Monet painting

E fiz um comentário óbvio pra ganhar tempo

And made an obvious comment to buy time

...

...

Você me lembra Sônia

You remind me of Sônia

Rainha Amazona, filha de Deus e de Maria

Amazon Queen, daughter of God and Mary

Moleca descalça correndo pela avenida sozinha

Barefoot girl running down the avenue alone

Sem rumo, sem medo da vida

Aimless, unafraid of life

Foi aí que eu conheci o mundo atrás da esquina

That’s when I discovered the world around the corner

E que o amor, quanto mais bate, mais te ensina

And that love, the more it hits, the more it teaches you

Vou ser poeta e consertar meu coração em qualquer oficina

I’ll be a poet and fix my heart in any workshop

Mas não me leia como se fosse um poema

But don’t read me like I’m a poem

Não me trate assim

Don’t treat me that way

Sônia, o que que houve com seus sonhos?

Sônia, what happened to your dreams?

Ao que temes mais que a solidão?

To what are you more afraid than loneliness?

Terás um filho e toda perspicácia do signo de escorpião

You’ll have a child, with all the insight of Scorpio

Mas não me leia como se fosse um poema

But don’t read me like I’m a poem

Não me trate assim

Don’t treat me that way

...

...

Quem me viu assim

Who saw me like this

Um circo sem lona

A circus without a tent

Quer saber de mim

Wants to know about me

Que pegue carona

Hop in my car

Resolvi cantar pra vocês

I decided to sing for you

O que eu aqui escrevi

What I wrote here

Me vieram com um sambinha

They came at me with a little samba

Não sei sambar, então eu cantei

I don’t know how to samba, so I just sang

Resolvi cantar pra vocês

I decided to sing for you

O que eu aqui escrevi

What I wrote here

Me vieram com um sambinha

They came at me with a little samba

Não sei sambar, então eu cantei

I don’t know how to samba, so I just sang

Hoje eles me perguntam

Today they ask me

Por que eu vivo assim

Why I live this way

Ô, amor, a vida chama

Oh, love, life calls

E eu vou no sapatin

And I follow along

Hoje eles me perguntam

Today they ask me

Por que eu vivo assim

Why I live this way

Ô, amor, a vida chama

Oh, love, life calls

E eu vou no sapatin

And I follow along

Não me chame pro samba

Don’t invite me to samba

Porque eu não sei sambar

Because I don’t know how to samba

Não me chame pro samba

Don’t invite me to samba

Porque eu não sei sambar

Because I don’t know how to samba

Vou-me embora cedo

I’ll leave early

...

...

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
ama /ˈɐ.mɐ/ A1	verb - to love
mesa /ˈme.zɐ/ A1	noun - table
cigarro /siˈɡa.ʁu/ A2	noun - cigarette
tempo /ˈtẽ.pu/ A2	noun - time
rainha /ʁɐˈĩ.ɲɐ/ A2	noun - queen
filha /ˈfi.ʎɐ/ A1	noun - daughter
medo /ˈme.du/ A2	noun - fear
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
poeta /puˈɛ.tɐ/ B1	noun - poet
coração /ko.ɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ A1	noun - heart
sonhos /ˈsõ.ɲus/ A2	noun - dreams
filho /ˈfi.ʎu/ A1	noun - son
cantar /kɐ̃ˈtaɾ/ A1	verb - to sing
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1	noun - life

Grammar:

• Quando a gente ama, a gente blefa

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (implicit). The “quando” clause implies a hypothetical or general situation, often triggering the subjunctive in other contexts, although here it's indicative. General use of 'a gente' for 'nós' (we).

  ➔ Explains a common expression about love and deception. "Quando a gente ama" (When we love) introduces a general statement, and "a gente blefa" (we bluff) describes a common behavior.

• Prestes a fazer a aposta errada

  ➔ "Prestes a" + infinitive: expressing immediacy or being about to do something.

  ➔ Indicates that the subject is on the verge of making a wrong bet, emphasizing the precariousness of the situation.

• Mas só olhei pro quadro do Monet

  ➔ Use of "pro" (short for "para o") contracted preposition indicating direction or destination.

  ➔ Shows a deliberate avoidance of direct interaction, focusing instead on an external object. Highlights the speaker's hesitation.

• Você me lembra Sônia

  ➔ Transitive verb "lembrar" meaning 'to remind'. Pronoun "me" as the indirect object. "Lembrar" can be pronominal ("lembrar-se") with a different structure/meaning.

  ➔ A direct comparison is made, stating that Sônia evokes a certain memory or impression in the speaker.

• Moleca descalça correndo pela avenida sozinha

  ➔ Descriptive language using adjectives and a gerund. "Descalça" (barefoot) and "sozinha" (alone) are adjectives modifying "moleca" (girl). "Correndo" (running) is a gerund functioning as an adjective describing the action.

  ➔ Paints a vivid image of a carefree and independent girl, highlighting her freedom and lack of fear.

• E que o amor, quanto mais bate, mais te ensina

  ➔ Comparative structure "quanto mais... mais..." expressing a proportional relationship (the more... the more...). "Te" is an object pronoun.

  ➔ Suggests that love, despite its hardships, provides valuable lessons. The structure emphasizes the increasing intensity of both the pain and the learning.

• Mas não me leia como se fosse um poema

  ➔ Subjunctive mood after "como se" (as if). Expresses a hypothetical or unreal situation. "Não me leia" is an imperative (negative).

  ➔ A plea against superficial understanding or analysis, suggesting the speaker wants to be seen beyond just surface-level interpretation.

• Vou-me embora cedo

  ➔ Pronominal verb "ir-se" (to leave, to go away). Future tense "vou". The reflexive pronoun "me" indicates that the action is directed back at the subject.

  ➔ Indicates a planned or intended departure, emphasizing the speaker's intention to leave early. "Embora" (away) adds emphasis to the leaving.