“Preciso me encontrar” (Candeia, 1976)

Cartola (pictured above), who would have turned 117 this past weekend, released this classic, haunting song by Candeia in 1976. Since then it has been covered by just about every Brazilian artist one can think of. And next month, it will be part of the Upstream Theater’s production of my translation of Pedro Brício’s “Um jardim para Chekhov” - “An Orchard for Chekhov”! (Click the category link above for other songs that are part of the play.)

Listen to the song

“Preciso me encontrar”
Deixe-me ir
Preciso andar
Vou por aí a procurar
Rir pra não chorar
Deixe-me ir
Preciso andar
Vou por aí a procurar
Sorrir pra não chorar

Quero assistir ao sol nascer
Ver as águas dos rios correr
Ouvir os pássaros cantar
Eu quero nascer
Quero viver

Deixe-me ir
Preciso andar
Vou por aí a procurar
Rir pra não chorar
Se alguém por mim perguntar
Diga que eu só vou voltar
Depois que me encontrar

“I need to find myself”
Let me go
I need to wander
I’m heading out to search
To laugh so I don’t cry
Let me go
I need to wander
I’m heading out to search
To laugh so I don’t cry

I want to watch the sun rise
See the waters of the rivers run
Hear the birds sing
I want to be born
I want to live

Let me go
I need to wander
I’m heading out to search
To laugh so I don’t cry
If anyone asks for me
Tell them I’m only coming back
After I find myself