Look, now... Beautiful "Beatriz", by Chico Buarque in English

 Life has been crazy. Working a lot, loving every minute of it. The down side is less time and energy to work on translations.

This song is from 1984, but I did not know it since a few weeks back. I know, I will have my Chico Buarque's fan status taken from me. Or should. It is a song written for a play and it is based on a true event. It tells the story of a young doctor, who went to Medical School to please his father. The tragedy (social, in this case) is that he falls for an actress. He quits his career as promising young doctor to join the Theater Company.

I have been listening to this song non-stop, in Monica Salmaso's voice. What an interpretation!

I hope you enjoy my version. I took some liberties to fit the lyrics on the melody, as I usually do.

Beatrice (Chico Buarque/ English lyrics by Rita Cammarota)

 Look, now

Is she a lady?

Is she a sad girl?

Is it hard to say?

Is it a painting:

The actress’ face?

 

If she dances on Heaven’s above,

If she thinks it’s a country she loves

 If she only interprets her lines

And, oh, if I could be

Part of her life…

 

Look, now

Is it made of china,

Is it made of ether?

Is it plain madness?

Is it in a theatre?

The actress home?

If she lives in the top building floor

If the walls are as thin as chalk

If she cries behind a hotel door

Oh, if I could be part of her life.

 

Yes, take me forever, Beatrice,

Teach me how you can walk on clouds,

Forever is doomed by the now

Oh, say, how many wrong turns you see on my palm?

Say, is it dangerous to live our dreams?

 

Look, now

Is that a star?

Is it all a lie?

Is it a comedy?

Is it divine?

The actress’ life?

 

If one day she falls from the sky,

And payers demand her to act,

Will the angel take off his hat?

Oh, if I could be part of her life...

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, "Valsinha" (Chico Buarque e Vinicius de Moraes) in English

Hello, guys! My life has been crazy these past months. A lot of things going on at work, a lot of plans being made (and hopefully coming true).  This song has been for quite some time in my list. Actually I translated the first two stanzas and couldn´t find the words for the final one. 

I really like this song, a waltz that is somewhat romantic, but basically a cold relationship that has been rediscovered. 

Valsinha

Chico Buarque e Vinicius de Moraes

 

Um dia ele chegou tão diferente

Do seu jeito de sempre chegar

Olhou-a de um jeito muito mais quente

Do que sempre costumava olhar

E não maldisse a vida tanto

Quanto era seu jeito de sempre falar

E nem deixou-a só num canto

Pra seu grande espanto, convidou-a pra rodar

  

E então ela se fez bonita

Como há muito tempo não queria ousar

Com seu vestido decotado

Cheirando a guardado de tanto esperar

Depois os dois deram-se os braços

Como há muito tempo não se usava dar

E cheios de ternura e graça

Foram para a praça e começaram a se abraçar

E ali dançaram tanta dança

Que a vizinhança toda despertou

E foi tanta felicidade

Que toda cidade se iluminou

E foram tantos beijos loucos

Tantos gritos roucos como não se ouvia mais

Que o mundo compreendeu

E o dia amanheceu em paz

  

Little Waltz

Portuguese Lyrics by Rita Cammarota

One day, he arrived in such a different way

He wasn´t used to doing anymore

Winked at her in a desiring gaze

When his eyes used to behave before

Did not complain ´bout life´s wicked ways

As his lips had cursed every day and more

Did not leave her to to sit and wait

Much to her surprise, they’d see the world outside the door

So, she made herself so pretty,

How in a long time she just wouldn´t dare

And wore her dress with that bold cleavage

Longtime forgotten in her room somewhere

And then they held their hands so sweetly

Like lovers did on the days of yore

So much loving, so much care,

In the empty square, they shared some hugs and more

Then, they danced all through the night

Waking all the neighbors, in bed asleep

Love was like the moon so bright

We could see the city smile so lit

So many hot kisses shared,

Both their souls so bare even blindmen could see

The world then understood,

The sun could rise and shine in peace

"Coração Leviano", by Paulinho da Viola in English

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a great year, filled with love, joy, good health, dreams and hope. My life has been busy and this is why I haven´t posted lately. These past days, some sambas have been stuck in my head, so I´ve decided to post this freshly baked translation from one of the most famous songs by Paulinho da Viola, "Coração Leviano". The song visits the common theme of heartbreak or even unrequited love. I hope you guys enjoy it and may your new year be free from corações levianos. :^D

Coração Leviano

Paulinho da Viola

Trama em segredo teus planos

Parte sem dizer adeus

Nem lembra dos meus desenganos

Fere quem tudo perdeu

Ah coração leviano não sabe o que fez do meu

Ah coração leviano não sabe o que fez do meu (mas trama)

Este pobre navegante

Meu coração amante

Enfrentou a tempestade

No mar da paixão e da loucura

Fruto da minha aventura

Em busca da felicidade

Ah coração teu engano

Foi esperar por um bem

De um coração leviano

Que nunca será de ninguém

Frivolous Heart

Paulinho da Viola

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

You plot your secret mischief,

And leave without bidding goodbye,

You don´t remember I grieved,

You hurt me, and did not look behind

Oh, that frivolous heart won´t mind what it´s done to mine,

Oh, that frivolous heart won´t mind what it´s done to mine,

This poor sailor in my chest

The heart I carry within,

Has faced a heavy tempest

In a madness passion ship

Hoping for a good destiny

In its search for happiness

Oh, naïve heart, you were wrong

To have expected some love

From a frivolous heart,

That will never belong to someone

Goodbye, Gullar! Thank you for your words

No words. My lips and heart feel dumb. One of my favorite poets died last weekend. I have translated some of his poems to English and posted on this blog. Ferreira Gullar died in Rio de Janeiro at 86 years old. Native to the state of Maranhão, in Northern part of Brazil, he has witten since a very young age.

He was one of the pioneers of the Neo Concrete movement and his poetry usually presented, with high sensibility and sensitivity, the social issues of his home country. During Brazil´s Military Regime, he exhiled for denouncing the country´s problems, such as hunger, poverty and lack of freedom. I will post a very famous poem, through which I knew him, and discusses freedom as well as other social issues.

Dois e dois: quatro

Ferreira Gullar

Como dois e dois são quatro
sei que a vida vale a pena
embora o pão seja caro
e a liberdade pequena

Como teus olhos são claros
e a tua pele, morena

como um tempo de alegria 

por trás do terror me acena 

e a noite carrega o dia 
no seu colo de açucena 

– sei que dois e dois são quatro
sei que a vida vale a pena

mesmo que o pão seja caro
e a liberdade, pequena.

Two and two: four

Portuguese Translation by Rita Cammarota

Like two and two make four

I know life is worth living

Though bread we can’t afford

And the freedom is teeny

Like that blue eyes of yours

And your skin´s dark and silky

Like the ocean´s fierce roar

As the lake sleeps so dearly

Like a time of great joy

Behind the horror  fury

And the night holds the day

In its lap made of lilies

- I know two and two make four 

   I know that life´s worth living

Though bread we cannot afford

And the freedom is teeny

The poem sprouts from the people: Ferreira Gullar translated into English

Meu povo Meu poema

Ferreira Gullar

Meu povo e meu poema crescem juntos
como cresce no fruto
a árvore nova

No povo meu poema vai nascendo
como no canavial
nasce verde o açúcar 

No povo meu poema está maduro
como o sol
na garganta do futuro

Meu povo em meu poema
se reflete
como a espiga se funde em terra fértil

Ao povo seu poema aqui devolvo
menos como quem canta
do que planta

My people, my poem

Ferreira Gullar

English translation by Rita Cammarota

My people and my poem grow together

Like the fruit bears

Itself the new tree

In the people my poem sprouts

Like in the fields

Sugar cane sprouts green

In the people, my poem is ripe

Like the sun

In the future´s tide

My people is reflected

On my poem

Like the corn
Fuses with the fertile soil

To my people, its poem I bestow

Not as one who sings

But as one who sows

Idle heart of mine: "Coração Vagabundo", by Caetano Veloso in English

According to Astrology, 2016 is the year of the Sun. To sum up,  it means it´s the time to go after our dreams, not only idealizing it: but really going hands on in it. I could not describe this moment of my life in a better way. Since 2014, things have changed a little here at work, but not to a deep extent. I feel this is the year I can see clearly what I want for myself and hopefully next year or two years from now I will be writing to you from a different place.

When I was daydreaming about it, I imediately remembered this song, specially its first part: My heart is never tired of desiring to become all it wants (I have adapted the words so it could fit the space and rhymes). A toast to all the idler hearts, the dreaming hearts and the ways they open for us. Hope you enjoy it.

Coração Vagabundo

Caetano Veloso

 

Meu coração não se cansa

De ter esperança

De um dia ser tudo o que quer

Meu coração de criança

Não é só a lembrança

De um vulto feliz de mulher

Que passou por meus sonhos

Sem dizer adeus

E fez dos olhos meus

Um chorar mais sem fim

Meu coração vagabundo

Quer guardar o mundo

Em mim

Idle Heart of Mine

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

That heart of mine isn´t tired

Of secretly desiring

To dream and become an adult

My heart behaves like a child

Always keeps on my mind

An old happy sight of a girl

Who has been in my dreams

And never said goodbye

She made of my eyes

Two boats floating adrift

That sad idle heart of mine

Wants to keep the world inside

Of me

You gotta have faith - George Michael to Gilberto Gil

Actually, this post has little to do with George Michael, though I love his songs (who can stay still listening to "Freedom"?). The only similarity between "Faith" and "Andar com fé" ("Walk wih faith"), by Gilberto Gil is the theme.

Gil´s song has a catchy African beat and poetry, rhymes and alliteration. It´s not about only religious beliefs but the inner faith, or maybe we should call it hope. Faith in knowing and trusting the sun is up everyday, faith the plane won´t crash, faith in rituals and God. Living is an exercise of faith, believing in your dreams and plans, for instance. Believing you´ll wake up to see another day. 

Andar com Fé

Gilberto Gil

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá...(4x)

Que a fé tá na mulher
A fé tá na cobra coral
Oh! Oh!
Num pedaço de pão...

A fé tá na maré
Na lâmina de um punhal
Oh! Oh!
Na luz, na escuridão...

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Olêlê!
Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Olálá!...

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Oh Minina!
Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá...

A fé tá na manhã
A fé tá no anoitecer
Oh! Oh!
No calor do verão...

A fé tá viva e sã
A fé também tá prá morrer
Oh! Oh!
Triste na solidão...

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Oh Minina!
Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá...

Certo ou errado até
A fé vai onde quer que eu vá
Oh! Oh!
A pé ou de avião...

Mesmo a quem não tem fé
A fé costuma acompanhar
Oh! Oh!
Pelo sim, pelo não...

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Olêlê!
Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Olálá!...

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá
Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá...

Olêlê, vamos lá!

Andá com fé eu vou
Que a fé não costuma faiá...(4x)

Walk with faith

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me (4 times)

Faith´s in women´s hearts

It´s in the eyes of a snake

Oh! Oh!

In a cupful of wine

Sailors will trust the stars

Others trust a sacrifice

Oh, Oh

Through the darkness or light

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Olele!

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Olálá!

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Pretty girl!

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Faith is the morning dew

Faith is the moonlight on you

Oh, oh...

It´s like the Summer heat

Faith is well and alive

Faith is just about to die

Oh! Oh!

Lonely and incomplete

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Pretty girl!

I´m gonna walk with faith

´cause I know faith won´t fail me

Either I´m right or wrong

Faith follows me all along

Oh!Oh!

On the ground, in the sky

In those who lack belief

Faith maybe lies underneath

Oh! Oh!

Who can say otherwise?

Chorus (4x)

May your weather (always) be nice

Hello, folks! Long time no talk! This year I´ve posted too little, I still have a pile of songs I would like to translate into English. Next year, hopefully I´ll be more constant.

The song I´ll post today has an Italian version and its original one in Portuguese. It´s kind of a reflection of our life, working hard all the week for a moment of fun and pleasure on Saturday and Sunday. I wish you all a great Christmas and a nice weather throughout all the New Year. May you find bright days or make them so! Peace to all and enjoy.

Bom Tempo

Chico Buarque

Um marinheiro me contou
Que a boa brisa lhe soprou
Que vem aí bom tempo
O pescador me confirmou
Que o passarinho lhe cantou
Que vem aí bom tempo

Dou duro toda semana
Senão pergunte à Joana
Que não me deixa mentir
Mas, finalmente é domingo
Naturalmente, me vingo
Eu vou me espalhar por aí

No compasso do samba
Eu disfarço o cansaço
Joana debaixo do braço
Carregadinha de amor
Vou que vou
Pela estrada que dá numa praia dourada
Que dá num tal de fazer nada
Como a natureza mandou

Vou
Satisfeito, a alegria batendo no peito
O radinho contando direito
A vitória do meu tricolor
Vou que vou
Lá no alto
O sol quente me leva num salto
Pro lado contrário do asfalto
Pro lado contrário da dor

Um marinheiro me contou
Que a boa brisa lhe soprou
Que vem aí bom tempo
Um pescador me confirmou
Que um passarinho lhe cantou
Que vem aí bom tempo

Ando cansado da lida
Preocupada, corrida, surrada, batida
Dos dias meus
Mas uma vez na vida
Eu vou viver a vida
Que eu pedi a Deus

Nice Weather

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

A sailor man was told

By the beach breeze, so I heard

There will be nice weather

The fisherman now knows

From this hopeful little bird

There will be nice weather

‘Been working hard all the week

Ask Jean if you don´t believe

And I know she´ll  tell you so

Oh, at last, it´s Sunday

God bless! I´m on my way

To a great time as I go

At the pace of a samba

I leave all the drama

Behind as I dance with my lover

And hold her body so close

So I´ll go

To the beach, to the smiles, to the breeze

And do nothing just as I please

Like watching my toenails grow

I´ll go

At my best, heart pumping joy into my chest,

My team has just won the last match,

I´ll celebrate it for sure

So I´ll go

To the sky

The Sunshine rockets me up high

So I´m far from the  darkness

So I´m far from the night

A sailor man was told

By the beach breeze, so he heard

There will be nice weather

The fisherman now knows

From this hopeful little bird

There will be nice weather

I´m so tired from the rush

The hard work, the papers, the weight and the worries,

Every day that goes by

But thia one time

I get to enjoy the glory

In this crazy paced life

Ferreira Gullar, one of my favorite (poems and poets), in English

I have had the honor of hearing this poem in the author´s voice, in a lecture about his career, life and poems at college. I did not know a lot about him, only knew his famous poem "Dois e dois:quatro"("Two and two: four"). I will post today my translation to this poem, which pretty much sums me up. Hope you enjoy it.

Traduzir-se 

Ferreira Gullar

Uma parte de mim 
é todo mundo: 
outra parte é ninguém: 
fundo sem fundo. 

Uma parte de mim 
é multidão: 
outra parte estranheza 
e solidão. 

Uma parte de mim 
pesa, pondera: 
outra parte 
delira. 

Uma parte de mim 
almoça e janta: 
outra parte 
se espanta

Uma parte de mim 
é permanente: 
outra parte 
se sabe de repente. 

Uma parte de mim 
é só vertigem: 
outra parte, 
linguagem. 

Traduzir uma parte 
na outra parte 
- que é uma questão 
de vida ou morte - 
será arte?

Translation
English version by Rita Cammarota

Half of me

Is everyone:

The other half is nobody:

Bottomless and alone

Half of me is

A crowded park:

The other half is

Lonely and dark

Half of me is

Balance and reason,

The other half:

Passion

Half of me

Enjoys supper at night,

The other half

Is always surprised

Half of me

Is always there

The other half is

Suddenly aware

Half of me

Is all vertigo

The other half:

Words

Translating both parts

Into one another

-a matter of life or death-

is it art?

Welcome, little girl!

As we come each day closer to 2015, I wanted to share with you my English translation to a popular Brazilian poem by Mário Quintana. Quintana is known for his simple, yet clever and moving words. When the year comes to an end, I always remember the words of this poem. It´s funny how most of the times, we have hope regarding the time to come. It doesn´t matter if we´ve made the same mistakes, if dreams and plans didn´t turn out the way we expected; every new year comes overflowing with hope. And it´s interesting the metaphor of Hope as a crazy lady, that lives despite all odds.
May next year be better, filled with joy, and may the tears not erase our dreams.
Hope you enjoy it!

Esperança

Mário Quintana

Lá bem no alto do décimo segundo andar do Ano
Vive uma louca chamada Esperança
E ela pensa que quando todas as sirenas
Todas as buzinas
Todos os reco-recos tocarem
Atira-se
E

— ó delicioso vôo!
Ela será encontrada miraculosamente incólume na calçada,
Outra vez criança...
E em torno dela indagará o povo:

— Como é teu nome, meninazinha de olhos verdes?
E ela lhes dirá
(É preciso dizer-lhes tudo de novo!)
Ela lhes dirá bem devagarinho, para que não esqueçam:
— O meu nome é ES-PE-RAN-ÇA...

Hope

English translation by Rita Cammarota

Way up in the 12th floor of the Year

Lives a crazy lady called Hope

She thinks that when every firework crack

All the bells sound

All the drums play

She will jump

-Oh, such a delightful flight!
Then, on the sidewalk, like a miracle, she´ll resemble

a child once again,

And around her, people will ask:
-  What´s your name, green-eyed little girl?

And she´ll tell them

(They have to be told time and again!)

She´ll tell them, slowly, so they won´t forget:
My name is H-O-P-E…

Childhood memories with "João e Maria" in English

Today, I´ll post the English version I made for the song "João e Maria". The harmony was composed before the lyrics, by Sivuca, in 1947. Chico Buarque was asked to write lyrics to Sivuca´s melody in 1977. At that time, Chico was writing children´s themes. He says that, given he was a kid in 1947 and because of the children´s themes he used to write back then, he recalled of his young days. In October 12th, at least in Brazil, Children´s Day is celebrated. Hope this song brings back sweet memories to everyone. 

João e Maria

Chico Buarque e Sivuca

Agora eu era o herói
E o meu cavalo só falava inglês
A noiva do cowboy
Era você além das outras três.

Eu enfrentava os batalhões
Os alemães e seus canhões
Guardava o meu bodoque
E ensaiava um rock para as matinês.

Agora eu era o rei
Era o bedel e era também juiz
E pela minha lei
A gente era obrigado a ser feliz.

E você era a princesa
Que eu fiz coroar
E era tão linda de se admirar
Que andava nua pelo meu país.

Não, não fuja não
Finja que agora eu era o seu brinquedo
Eu era o seu pião
O seu bicho preferido.

Vem, me dê a mão
A gente agora já não tinha medo
No tempo da maldade
Acho que a gente nem tinha nascido.

Agora era fatal
Que o faz-de-conta terminasse assim
Pra lá deste quintal
Era uma noite que não tem mais fim.

Pois você sumiu no mundo

Sem me avisar
E agora eu era um louco a perguntar
O que é que a vida vai fazer de mim.

Hansel and Gretl

English lyrics by Rita Cammarota

I´m the hero now

And my horse is always by my side

You´re my favorite gal

But the other ones don´t seem to mind

I fight away the enemies

Well, I´m a soldier, don´t you see?

Now my gun has turned

Into a mean guitar, I am the king of beat

Now, I´m the bravest knight

I´m a beadle, and a joyful king

The law that I made up

Enforces happiness as well as dreams

Oh, my dear, you are the princess

That became my Queen,

You look so pretty as you dress in pink

You´re like a flower blossom in the spring

Please, don´t run away

I can change into your favorite toy

I´m the prince you love

A teddy bear you once adored

Come, give me your hand

Fear is nothing but a really bad word

When the witches come

It´s the time we´ll be grown ups

Final chapter now

Happy endings aren´t quite as true

Outside the backyard

The sky turned black, it´s no longer blue

 Because you, my dearest love

Is now out of sight

Now I´m a madman and I don´t know why

You left without kissing me goodbye