Amália With thanks to Catarina R for some wonderful Amália pics, and Thomas Keyes for his scholarly comments. Coimbra (April In Portugal - recorded in 1952) Commentary by Thomas Keyes July 5, 2005 "Coimbra" is the original name of a song of the 1930's, with music by Raul Ferrao* and lyrics by José Galhardo, but more widely known as "April in Portugal". Coimbra is a city in Portugal on the Mondego River about 100 miles north of Lisbon. It is also the seat of an old university, and the original lyrics of this romantic song are such an odd, incomprehensible allusion to student life that one can hardly imagine that anybody wrote them with any expectation that the song would become world-famous. It did indeed achieve fame, though, with new title and new lyrics in English, French and other languages. Choupal is a district along the Mondego, and Inês was the heroine of a medieval drama. The song, which is called a 'fado' (fate) has a truly beautiful melody. In the US, it was performed by such ... as Bing Crosby, Liberace and Louis Armstrong. I visited Portugal briefly in 1991, without knowing a word of the language, but now that I've already spent 6 months in Brazil and am planning another 6 months soon, I have gotten interested in Portuguese, spoken in Brazil also. Below I have reproduced the original Portuguese lyrics of "Coimbra", with my own literal translation. The obscurity is part of the song; it's not my doing. I've also appended the English lyrics of "April in Portugal" by James Kennedy. If they are trite, at least they are intelligible. (* An asterisk means that the next-to-the-last vowel has a superscript tilde, as in 'ñ', which I can't type over a vowel on my present keyboard.) COIMBRA (Original Portuguese Lyrics) Coimbra do Choupal, Ainda és capital De amor em Portugal, Ainda és capital. Coimbra, onde uma vez Com lágrimas se fez A história dessa Inês tao* linda Coimbra das cançoes* Tao* meigas que nos poes* Os nossos coraçoes* à luz. Coimbra dos doctores, Pra nós os seus cantores A fonte de amor és tu. Coimbra e uma liçao* de sonho e tradiçao*. O lente e uma cançao* e a lua a faculdade. O livro é uma mulher só passa quem souber E aprende-se a dizer saudade. COIMBRA (Literal English Translation) Coimbra of the Choupal, Thou art still capital Of love in Portugal, Thou art still capital. Coimbra, where once upon a time With tears took place The story of that Inês so lovely. Coimbra of the songs So tender that thou turnest Our hearts to the light. Coimbra of the professors, For us, thy singers, The fount of love art thou. Coimbra is a lesson of dreams and tradition. The lens is a song and the moon is the faculty. The book is a lady. Whoever just passes knows And learns to say 'longing'. APRIL IN PORTUGAL (English Lyrics) I found my April dream in Portugal with you, When we discovered romance, like we never knew. My head was in the clouds. My heart went crazy too. And madly I said, "I love you". Too soon I heard you say, "This dream is for a day." That's Portugal and love in April! And when the showers fell, Those tears I know so well, They told me it was Spring fooling me. I found my April dream in Portugal with you, When we discovered romance, like we never knew. Then morning brought the rain, and now my dream is through, But still my heart says, "I love you." This sad reality, to know it couldn't be, That's Portugal and love in April. The music and the wine convinced me you were mine, But it was just the Spring fooling me. I found my April dream in Portugal with you, When we discovered romance, like we never knew. Then morning brought the rain, and now my dream is through, But still my heart says, "I love you." ------------ About the author Thomas Keyes: I have written two books: A SOJOURN IN ASIA (non-fiction) and A TALE OF UNG (fiction), neither published so far. I have studied languages for years and traveled extensively on five continents. http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/06july/article033.html manfreadstraw remains a devout Bing, Satchmo and Liberace fan - three American greats.