The Anvil has been quiet for a couple of weeks while I’ve traveled to the US Northeast, followed riveting elections in Brazil, and worked the polls for riveting elections at home. I can think of no better way to return than by wishing Parabéns and Happy 84th birthday to Paulinho da Viola with a translation of his classic “Coração Leviano.” I spent quite a while thinking about possible translations for the word “leviano.” Perhaps the most common parallel in this context would be “fickle” or maybe “restless” or “inconstant” (some dictionaries offer “rash” and “lightheaded”) but in the end, at least in this context, I decided that “wayward” preserves both more of the meaning of the Portuguese and is more poetic and lyrical. Plus it ties nicely back into the Anvil’s wayward absence over the last month.
“Coração Leviano”
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
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
“Wayward Heart”
You plot your plans in secret
You leave without saying goodbye
You don’t even remember my disillusionment
You wound one who has lost all
Ah, wayward heart
You don’t know what you did to mine
Ah, wayward heart
You don’t know what you did to mine
This poor navigator
My loving heart
Faced the storm
On the sea of passion and madness
Fruit of my adventure
In search of happiness
Ah heart, your mistake
Was waiting for a love
With a wayward heart
That will never belong to anyone