Travessia

I recently got hold of the lyrics of the Milton Nascimento classic song Travessia (Bridges). One thing I have noticed often is how the lyrics of Brazilian songs change going from Portuguese to English. It says something about the Brazilian and the US world views.


The Portuguese lyrics of Travessia by Fernando Brant speak of loss, and determination to survive. The last stanza goes:



Vou querer amar de novo e se não der não vou sofrer / Já não sonho, hoje faço com meu braço o meu viver (I will want to love again and if not, I will not suffer / No longer a dream, today I build my life with my arms)

However, the English lyrics (of the same ending, by Gene Lees) are about a wanderer and a searcher, and more optimistic:

And I call across to tell her where I believe the bridge must lie / and I'll find it yes, I'll find it if I search until I die

But sometimes it goes the other way. Manha de Carnaval from Black Orpheus became A Day in the Life of a Fool where the singer berates him/herself for losing a lover. In the original, it simply speaks of the beauty of the morning, music and love.