Capoeira Song of the Week: Saudades do meu Maranhão

You submit the songs.  We show you the lyrics, translation, and give some phonetic spelling to help your pronunciation.

The format works like this:

The lyrics in Portuguese are in bold

The phonetic spelling for pronunciation is in italics with the STRESSED SYLLABLES IN ALL CAPITALS with syllables se-pa-ra-ted by dash-es

The English translation is in regular text

This week, per Monge's request...

Saudades do meu Maranhão by Mestre Azulão

Maranhão Maranhão ô ô

Mah-rah-NYOWNH Mah-rah-NYOWNH

Maranhão Maranhão oh oh

Que saudades do meu Maranhão ô ô 

Key sow-DAH-geez dooh mehoo* Mah-rah-NYOWNH

How I miss my Maranhão oh oh

Menina solta os cabelos

Meh-NEE-nah SOHL-tah oos kah-BEH-loos

Girl let your hair down

Por baixo do limoeiro

Pohrh BAYE-shoo dooh lee-moo-EY-roo

Beneath the lemon tree

Se o limoerio morrer ô ô

See ooh lee-moo-EY-roo moh-HERH oh oh

If the lemon tree dies 

Eu pago com meu dinheiro

Ehoo* PAH-goo konh mehoo* dee-NYEY-rooh

I will pay for it with my money  

Maranhão Maranhão

Mah-rah-NYOWNH Mah-rah-NYOWNH

Maranhão Maranhão

Maranhão Maranhão ô ô

Mah-rah-NYOWNH Mah-rah-NYOWNH oh oh

Maranhão Maranhão oh oh

Que saudades do meu Maranhão ô ô

Key sow-DAH-geez dooh mehoo* Mah-rah-NYOWNH

How I miss my Maranhão oh oh

No fundo do mar tem um peixe dourado

nooh FOON-dooh dooh mahrh tehng oohnh PEY-shee doh-RAH-dooh

At the bottom of the sea there is a golden fish

Menina bonita sou seu namorado

Meh-NEE-nah boh-NEE-tah soh sehoo* nah-moh-RAH-dooh

Beautiful girl I'm your boyfriend

No fundo do mar tem um peixe de escama

Nooh FOON-dooh dooh marh tehng oonh PEY-shee deeh ehs-KAH-mah

At the bottom of the sea there is a fish with scales

Menina bonita sou eu quem te ama

Meh-NEE-nah boh-NEE-tah soh ehoo* kehng chee AH-mah

Beautiful girl it is I whom you love

Penteando seus cabelos

Pehn-chee-AHN-dooh sehoos* kah-BEH-loos

Combing their hair

Com pente de barbatana

Konh PEHNG-chee dee barh-bah-TAH-nah

With a comb made of fins 

Quem me derá ser candeia

Kehng mee deh-RAH sehrh kahn-DEY-ah

What I would give to be a candle

Para alumiar sua cama

PAH-rah ah-LOOH-mee-ahrh SOOH-ah KAH-mah

To illuminate your bed

Maranhão Maranhão

Mah-rah-NYOWNH Mah-rah-NYOWNH

Maranhão Maranhão

Maranhão Maranhão ô ô

Mah-rah-NYOWNH Mah-rah-NYOWNH oh oh

Maranhão Maranhão oh oh

Que saudades do meu Maranhão ô ô

Mah-rah-NYOWNH oh oh

How I miss my Maranhão oh oh