Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Lyrics/Translation - A Mae D'Agua e a Menina

33 views
Skip to first unread message

Gerry

unread,
Jun 30, 2011, 3:50:08 PM6/30/11
to
Now that translate.google.com has had its say, perhaps others can help
cull some meaning from it:

 ---===---

A Mãe D'água e a Menina
Dorival Caymmi

Estou cansado de andar na areia
Estou cansado de na areia andar
Procurando, eu mais Sinhazinha
A meninazinha que sumiu no mar

A Mãe Dágua levou a menina
A Mãe Dágua levou a menina
Levou, levou. Levou

Voltei cansado, eu mais Sinhazinha
De andar na areia, de na areia andar
De repende nós vimo’ a menina
Toda enfeitadinha no mesmo lugar

A Mãe Dágua voltou com a menina
A Mãe Dágua voltou com a menina
Voltou, voltou, voltou

---

The Sea Mother and Girl

I'm tired of walking in the sand
I'm tired of walking in the sand
Searching, I most Sinhazinha
The little girl who disappeared at sea

The mother took the girl of the sea
The mother took the girl of the sea
Led, led. Led

I came back tired, I most Sinhazinha
Walking in the sand, the sand floor
From repende we saw 'the girl
Enfeitadinha all in one place

Mother returned with the girl of the sea
Mother returned with the girl of the sea
Back, back, back

--
-- At this point Sharazad saw the approach of morning and discreetly
fell silent.

Daniella Thompson

unread,
Jul 5, 2011, 1:50:56 AM7/5/11
to

The Mermaid and the Girl

I’m tired of walking in the sand
I’m tired of walking in the sand

Searching, I and Sinhazinha,
For the little girl who vanished at sea
The mermaid took the girl away
The mermaid took the girl away
Took away, took away, took away

I returned tired, I and Sinhazinha,
Of walking in the sand, in the sand walking
Suddenly we saw the girl
all adorned, in the same place
The mermaid returned with the girl
The mermaid returned with the girl
Returned, returned, returned

Gerry

unread,
Jul 7, 2011, 10:06:09 AM7/7/11
to

Many thanks. Nice to see your ID after so long.

Only out of curiosity: Any idea what Sinhazinha is the diminutive of?

Fred

unread,
Jul 8, 2011, 9:11:06 AM7/8/11
to

"Senhora" contracts to "Sinhá", having them "Sinhazinha" as the
diminutive. It's an old rural word, associated to the way the slaves
spoke. (Sinhô -> Senhor btw). The word sinhazinha refers to the
daughter of the master or boss.

Also, Mãe d'água is one of the various names of the archetypal goddess
of the water (sea/river). I'm sure you heard the verses

"Oguntê, Marabô
Caiala e Sobá
Oloxum, Inaê
Janaína, Iemanjá
São Rainhas do Mar..."

these are all names for the same archetype... But "mãe d'água" usually
refers to Iara, from the indigenous folklore...

Gerry

unread,
Jul 9, 2011, 1:37:41 PM7/9/11
to
On 2011-07-08 06:11:06 -0700, Fred said:

>
> "Senhora" contracts to "Sinhá", having them "Sinhazinha" as the
> diminutive. It's an old rural word, associated to the way the slaves
> spoke. (Sinhô -> Senhor btw). The word sinhazinha refers to the
> daughter of the master or boss.

Hmm. Sounds like the way we use "little man" in UnitedStatesian for
boys to provide them a bump of respect.

> Also, Mãe d'água is one of the various names of the archetypal goddess
> of the water (sea/river). I'm sure you heard the verses
>
> "Oguntê, Marabô
> Caiala e Sobá
> Oloxum, Inaê
> Janaína, Iemanjá
> São Rainhas do Mar..."
>
> these are all names for the same archetype... But "mãe d'água" usually
> refers to Iara, from the indigenous folklore...

Yeah, I got that from reading enough of Amado over the years.

Many thanks for the nuance, Fred!

0 new messages