the day I went away
Caetano Veloso is one of the founders of the Tropicália movement in 70s Brazil, a great songwriter, an amazing voice, a remarkable and unique spirit. This early song shares traces of the rural roots of that country, and for me at least reflects the generational and geographic distances between the small-town “campo” families and their urban and world-hungry children.
Elis Regina was the most-loved Brazilian singer prior to her death by unnatural and self-induced causes. Check out her cover of Aguas de março by Tom Jobim, available on YouTube.
No dia em que vim-me embora por Caetano Veloso, cantada por Elis Regina
No dia em que eu vim-me embora Minha mãe chorava em ai Minha irmã chorava em ui E eu nem olhava prá trás No dia que eu vim-me embora Não teve nada de mais
Mala de couro forrada com pano forte e brim cáqui Minha vó já quase morta Minha mãe até a porta Minha irmã até a rua E até o porto meu pai
O qual não disse palavra durante todo o caminho E quando eu me vi sozinha Vi que não entendia nada Nem de pro que eu ia indo Nem dos sonhos que eu levava Senti apenas que a mala de couro que eu carregava Embora estando forrada Fedia, cheirava mal
Afora isto ia indo, atravessando, seguindo Nem chorando nem sorrindo Sozinha pra Capital Nem chorando nem sorrindo Sozinha pra Capital Sozinha pra Capital Sozinha pra Capital Sozinha pra Capital…
No Dia em que Eu Vim Embora - Elis Regina
"Look a Bird" by Lynden Weimerskirch @ DeviantArt.com
On the Day I Came Away by Caetano Veloso, covered by Elis Regina
On the day I came away My mother was crying: oh My sister was crying: ay And I never looked behind On the day I came away There wasn’t much to see
A leather suitcase, lined With heavy denim and khaki My grandmother almost passing My mother stopped at the door My sister hesitated at the gate As far as the port, my father came
Who spoke not a single word The length of my departure And finding myself alone I saw that he knew nothing Of the reasons I had for going Or the dreams I carried with me I felt only the leather case That I was taking with me Although it was lined with khaki Was moldy and foul-smelling…
Other than that I went along Crossing over, following after I wasn’t crying, I wasn’t smiling Alone to the capitol
I wasn’t crying, and wasn’t smiling Alone to the capitol Alone to the capitol Alone to the capitol Alone to the capitol…