I saw this one in a compilation video and I’d never heard of the fadista but I thought it would make a good transation. And holy shit it’s heavy! Not the music, obviously, but the sentiment is raw and real. I don’t think it would even make sense sung by anyone younger than she is. It’s emo music for the older generation.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Volta atrás vida vivida Para eu tornar a ver Aquela vida perdida Que nunca soube viver | Come back, life lived So I’ll see again That lost life I never knew how to live |
| Voltar de novo quem dera A tal tempo, que saudade Volta sempre a primavera Só não volta a mocidade | If only I could go back again, to such a time, what sadness Spring always returns Just not youth |
| A vida começa cedo Mas assim que ela começa Começamos por ter medo Que ela se acabe depressa | Life starts early But as soon as it starts We start fearing That it will end soon |
| O tempo vai-se passando E a gente vai-se iludindo Ora rindo ora chorando Ora chorando ora rindo | Time keeps passing People keep deceiving themselves Either laughing or crying Either crying or laughing |
| Meu deus, como o tempo passa Dizemos de quando em quando Afinal, o tempo fica A gente é que vai passando | My god, how time passes We say, from time to time But really, time stays It’s the people who pass by |
*