Tardei – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Rodrigo Amarante

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of the Portuguese language through Rodrigo Amarante's 'Tardei,' a tender and reflective song about journeys and finding your place. This track, with its poetic lyrics and soothing melody, offers a unique way to connect with the emotional depth and musicality of Brazilian culture.

[English]

I delayed, I delayed, I delayed

But I finally arrived

For every "goodbye", a knot

Each counts the thread of the rosary that I

Came to bathe

To give to you

I delayed, I delayed, I delayed

Only on the way back did I see

Which path led me

Which brought me here

To find you

Where is

My place?

...

It flowed down the river

From the land to the sea

A silver thread that takes me

I delayed, I delayed, I delayed

That on the way I wanted

For the first time

Never to leave again

And wait for you

My place

Where is?

...

It flowed down the river

From the land to the sea

A silver thread that takes me

...

[Portuguese]

Tardei, tardei, tardei

Mas cheguei, enfim

Pra cada "adeus", um nó

Cada conta o fio do rosário que eu

Vim banhar

Pra lhe dar

Tardei, tardei, tardei

Só na volta eu vi

Qual senda me levou

Qual me trouxe aqui

Pra encontrar você

Onde está

Meu lugar?

Desceu pelo rio

Da terra pro mar

Um fio de prata que me leva

Tardei, tardei, tardei

Que na vinda eu quis

Pela primeira vez

Nunca mais partir

E esperar você

O meu lugar

Onde está?

Desceu pelo rio

Da terra pro mar

Um fio de prata que me leva

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chegar /ʃeˈgaʁ/ A2	verb - to arrive
nó /nɔ/ B1	noun - knot
conta /ˈkõta/ B1	noun - count, bill, invoice
fio /fi.u/ B2	noun - fiber, thread
rosário /ʁuˈzaɾiu/ B2	noun - rosary, prayer beads
banhado /bɐ̃ˈɲaɾu/ B2	verb - to bathe, swim
enfim /ẽˈfĩ/ B1	adverb - finally, at last
lugar /luˈgaʁ/ A2	noun - place
rio /ˈʁiu/ A2	noun - river
mar /maʁ/ A2	noun - sea
fio /fi.u/ B2	noun - fiber, thread

Key Grammar Structures

• Tardei, tardei, tardei

  ➔ Use of simple past tense to express an action that happened in the past.

  ➔ Repeated to emphasize the action of being late, using the simple past.

• Mas cheguei, enfim

  ➔ Use of the conjunction 'mas' (but) to contrast two clauses; 'cheguei' is the preterite form of 'chegar' (to arrive).

  ➔ Contrasts the preceding statement with a new piece of information, using the conjunction 'mas'.

• Pra cada 'adeus', um nó

  ➔ Use of 'pra' (para) indicating purpose or consequence; 'um nó' (a knot) as a metaphor.

  ➔ Indicates a relationship of cause and effect, metaphorically suggesting emotional or situational knots.

• Vim banhar

  ➔ Use of the verb 'vim' (I came) + infinitive 'banhar' (to bathe), expressing purpose or action performed upon arrival.

  ➔ Expresses the action performed upon arriving, emphasizing purpose or intent.

• Qual senda me levou

  ➔ Use of 'Qual' (which) as an interrogative pronoun and 'me levou' (led me) in the preterite form.

  ➔ Forms a question seeking to identify which path or way led the speaker here, using an interrogative pronoun and past tense verb.

• Pela primeira vez

  ➔ Expression meaning 'for the first time', indicating an initial occurrence.

  ➔ Indicates that the action or event is happening for the initial time, emphasizing novelty or importance.