Bairro Alto – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Carlos Do Carmo
• Album: Fado Maestro

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the soul of Lisbon through Carlos do Carmo's "Bairro Alto." This Fado classic offers a window into the city's bohemian heart and the profound emotions of Portuguese culture, inviting listeners to connect with saudade and tradition.

[English]

Bairro Alto so devoted to its loves

Once wanted to stand out in the crowd

And went out with the troubadours and the fado

To win his conquests

The simple strings are touched

Lisbon opened its windows, woke up with a start

Neighborhoods shouted for no reason

Quiet, old Lisbon! Go sing Bairro Alto

Ancient tunes, crazy longing

Songs are dancing from mouth to mouth

Sad, bizarre, in communion

Guitars are moaning hand to hand

That’s why he earned a reputation as a bohemian

For his fatalist charm

They threw mud at him as a reward

For being noble and a fado singer

Today, the beloved and elderly

Remembers with affection his loves, his passions

To fulfill his destiny

Still came to the street to sing his songs

Ancient tunes, crazy longing

Songs are dancing from mouth to mouth

Sad, bizarre, in communion

Guitars are moaning hand to hand

...

Ancient tunes, crazy longing

Songs are dancing from mouth to mouth

Sad, bizarre, in communion

Guitars are moaning hand to hand

...

[Portuguese]

Bairro Alto aos seus amores tão dedicado

Quis um dia dar nas vistas

E saiu com os trovadores mais o fado

P'ra fazer suas conquistas

Tangem as liras singelas

Lisboa abriu as janelas, acordou em sobressalto

Gritaram bairros à toa

Silêncio, velha Lisboa! Vai cantar o bairro Alto

Trovas antigas, saudade louca

Andam cantigas a bailar de boca em boca

Tristes, bizarras, em comunhão

Andam guitarras a gemer de mão em mão

Por isso é que mereceu fama de boêmio

Por seu condão fatalista

Atiraram-lhe com a lama como prêmio

Por ser nobre e ser fadista

Hoje, o saudoso e velhinho

Recordando com carinho seus amores, suas paixões

P'ra cumprir a sina sua

'Inda veio p'ro meio da rua cantar as suas canções

Trovas antigas, saudade louca

Andam cantigas a bailar de boca em boca

Tristes, bizarras, em comunhão

Andam guitarras a gemer de mão em mão

Trovas antigas, saudade louca

Andam cantigas a bailar de boca em boca

Tristes, bizarras, em comunhão

Andam guitarras a gemer de mão em mão

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bairro /ˈbaɪɾu/ A1	noun - neighborhood
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - love
cantar /kɐ̃ˈtaʁ/ A2	verb - to sing
saudade /sawˈdadʒi/ B1	noun - a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone
guitarra /ɡiˈtaʁɐ/ A2	noun - guitar
trova /ˈtɾɔvɐ/ B2	noun - a type of lyrical poem or song
conquista /kõˈkiʃtɐ/ B2	noun - conquest or achievement
fado /ˈfadu/ B1	noun - a genre of Portuguese music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics
velho /ˈvɛʎu/ A2	adjective - old
mão /mɐ̃w/ A1	noun - hand
silêncio /siˈlẽsju/ B1	noun - silence
triste /ˈtɾiʃtɨ/ A2	adjective - sad
antigo /ɐ̃ˈtiɡu/ B1	adjective - ancient or old
fama /ˈfɐmɐ/ B2	noun - fame or reputation
fatalista /fɐtɐˈlistɐ/ C1	adjective - fatalistic, believing that all events are predetermined