“A noite do meu bem” (Dolores Duran, 1959)
Source: Brazilian National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This classic samba-canção (almost a lullaby) will be the focus of the Brazuca Sounds podcast tomorrow. Although clearly about a returning lover, I feel like this song is a wonderful call for peace, love, and understanding as the world around us seems to be in complete chaos. Probably Duran’s biggest hit, “A noite do meu bem” was #98 on Rolling Stone Brasil’s 100 Best Brazilian Songs of All Time. The lyrics are quite straightforward, but there is one repeated word that gave me pause: “noite” can mean both “night” (most commonly) and “evening.” I chose the latter here because it seemed to better fit the romantic aspirations of the song.
“A noite do meu bem”
Hoje eu quero a rosa mais linda que houver
E a primeira estrela que vier
Para enfeitar a noite do meu bem
Hoje eu quero paz de criança dormindo
E abandono de flores se abrindo
Para enfeitar a noite do meu bem
Quero a alegria de um barco voltando
Quero ternura de mãos se encontrando
Para enfeitar a noite do meu bem
Ah, eu quero o amor
O amor mais profundo
Eu quero toda beleza do mundo
Para enfeitar a noite do meu bem
Quero a alegria de um barco voltando
Quero ternura de mãos se encontrando
Para enfeitar a noite do meu bem
Ah, como este bem demorou a chegar
Eu já nem sei se terei no olhar
Toda pureza que quero lhe dar
“My love’s evening”
Today I want the most beautiful rose there is
And the first star that appears
To adorn my love’s evening
Today I want the peace of a sleeping child
And the abandon of flowers opening
To adorn my love’s evening
I want the happiness of a boat returning
I want the tenderness of hands meeting
To adorn my love’s evening
Ah, I want love
The most profound love
I want all the beauty in the world
To adorn my love’s evening
I want the happiness of a boat returning
I want the tenderness of hands meeting
To adorn my love’s evening
Ah, this love took so long to arrive
I no longer know if my gaze will contain
All the purity I want to give him