“Aquarela do Brasil” (Ary Barroso, 1939)
As we head into Carnaval weekend, I’ve translated one of the most famous sambas of all time, arguably one of the most well-known Brazilian songs of any kind (right up there with Girl from Ipanema). This song, covered by just about every Brazilian musician, is full of (sometimes quite outdated) references to Brazilian history and culture. Perhaps the most difficult of these is “mãe preta” which refers to the enslaved Black women who served as wet nurses; literally translated as “Black mother” I have chosen a less loaded term. There are several other references to Afro-Brazilian history, religion, and culture (felicitously during this Black History Month) as well as some colorful adjectives that continue to stir some debate, all of which you can see below. Next week I will be posting another “Brazilian watercolor” (hint: Martinho da Vila) in lead up to Fat Tuesday, which will also be the focus of the Brazuca Sounds podcast episode on Terça-Feira Gorda itself.
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“Aquarela do Brasil”
Brasil
Meu Brasil brasileiro
Meu mulato inzoneiro
Vou cantar-te nos meus versos
O Brasil, samba que dá
Bamboleio que faz gingar
O Brasil do meu amor
Terra de Nosso Senhor
Brasil (Brasil)
Pra mim (pra mim)
Ó, abre a cortina do passado
Tira a mãe preta do cerrado
Bota o rei congo no congado
Brasil (Brasil)
Deixa cantar de novo o trovador
À merencória luz da Lua
Toda canção do meu amor
Quero ver essa dona caminhando
Pelos salões arrastando
O seu vestido rendado
Brasil (Brasil)
Pra mim (pra mim)
Brasil
Terra boa e gostosa
Da morena sestrosa
De olhar indiscreto
O Brasil, verde que dá
Para o mundo se admirar
O Brasil do meu amor
Terra de Nosso Senhor
Brasil (Brasil)
Pra mim (pra mim)
Ó, esse coqueiro que dá coco
Onde eu amarro a minha rede
Nas noites claras de luar
Brasil (Brasil)
Oi, estas fontes murmurantes
Oi, onde eu mato a minha sede
E onde a Lua vem brincar
Oi, esse Brasil lindo e trigueiro
É o meu Brasil brasileiro
Terra de samba e pandeiro
Brasil (Brasil)
Pra mim (pra mim)
“Watercolor of Brazil”
Brazil
My Brazilian Brazil
My enchanting mulatto
I’ll sing of you in my verses
The Brazil that gives us samba
A swing that makes you sway
The Brazil of my love
Land of Our Lord
Brazil (Brazil)
For me (for me)
Ah, open the curtain to the past
Get the nursemaid from the cerrado
Put the Congo king in the celebration
Brazil (Brazil)
Let the troubadour sing again
Under the melancholy light of the Moon
All the songs of my love
I want to see that lady walking
Through the dancehalls dragging
Her lacey dress
Brazil (Brazil)
For me (for me)
Brazil
Good and delicious land
Of the mischievous morena
Of indiscreet looks
Oh Brasil, the green you give
For the world to admire
The Brazil of my love
Land of Our Lord
Brazil (Brazil)
For me (for me)
Ah, that palm tree dropping coconuts
Where I tie up my hammock
On clear moonlit nights
Brazil (Brazil)
Hi, these babbling brooks
Hi, where I quench my thirst
And where the Moon comes to play
Hi, this beautiful and tanned Brazil
Is my Brazilian Brazil
Land of samba and tambourine
Brazil (Brazil)
For me (for me)