Portuguese Folk Songs – Celebrating Nature and Agriculture

1. “Portuguese Folk Songs”Project Socrates Comenius“Green Harmony” Agrupamento de Escolas de Campo Maior Portugal

2. In Portuguese folk songs there are undoubtedly a lot of them related in any way with agriculture and seasonal crops. It would be a hard work to collect and try to organize them.

3. So start by perhaps the most popular: “Oh rama que linda rama”. Folk song from the Alentejo, (our region), speaks of the olive tree and its foliage, love singing, and making an apology not of fortune, but happiness from exercising freely in nature.

4. “Oh Rama que linda rama” Refrão Oh rama que linda rama, Oh rama da oliveira, O meu par é o mais lindo, Que anda aqui na roda inteira. Que anda aqui na roda inteira, Aqui e em qualquer lugar… Oh rama e oh que linda rama, Oh rama do olival. Eu gosto muito de ouvir Cantar a quem aprendeu. Se houvera quem me ensinara, Quem aprendia era eu! Refrão Não m' invejo de quem tem Parelhas, éguas e montes; Só m' invejo de quem bebe A água em todas as fontes. Refrão Fui à fonte beber água, Encontrei um ramo verde; Quem o perdeu tinha amores, Quem o achou tinha sede. Refrão Debaixo da oliveira Não se pode namorar; A folha é miudinha, Deixa passar o luar. “Oh what a lovely foliage” ChorusOh what a lovely folliageOh the olive branch,My pair is the most beautiful,Walking the entire wheel here.Walking the entire wheel here,Here and everywhere ...Oh oh what a beautiful foliage and stems,Oh the olive branch. Chorus I really like to hearWho learned to sing.If there had who taught me,Who was I learned! ChorusM not 'envy of those who haveMules, horses and mountains;Only m 'envy of drinkersThe water on all sources. ChorusI went to the drink water source,I found a green branch;Who'd lost loves,Who thought he was thirsty. ChorusUnder the olive treeYou can not dating;The leaf is petite,Lets the moonlight

5. We may find the lyrics and the strains for guitars or piano, at: http://www.losacordes.com/piano/musica-popular-portuguesa/a-rama

6. “Oh rama que linda rama”(Click in the image to see the video)

7. And here is another song that would be sung at harvest time. “Chora a Videira”

8. “Chora a videira”

9. Chora a videira, A videira chora, Chora a videira Que se vai embora … Ó videira, dá-me um cacho, Ó cacho, dá-me um baguinho, Deu-se os olhos um aceno, Deu-se a boca um beijinho. Chora a videira E a videira chora, Chora a videira Que se vai embora … Chora a videira, Deixai-a chorar, Chora a videira, Que nos vai deixar. Ó amor, p’ra ser amor Não deve ser int’resseiro, Se queres a minha aliança, Dá-me o teu anel primeiro. Chora a videira, Chora a videirinha, A Videira Dá cá um beijo, Ó prenda minha. Chora a videira E à videira chora, O meu amor Que se vai embora. Tu passas por mim Não me falas, Guarda respeito a alguém, Podes passar e falar, Respeitar quem te quer. Chora a videira, Chora a videirinha, Chora a videira, Ó prenda minha. Chora a videira E à videira chora, Adeus amor Que me vou embora …

10. The Vine Cries the vine,The vine weeps,Cries the vineWhat is going away ...Oh vine, give me a bunch,Oh cluster, gives me a grape,He gave a nod to the eyes,He gave her mouth a little kiss.Cries the vineAnd the vine weeps,Cries the vineWhat is going away ...Cries the vine,Let her cryCries the vine,Will leave us.Love, be loveThere should not be selfishIf you want my covenant,Give me your ring first.Cries the vine,Cries the pusher, Give me a kissOh my gift.Cries the vineAnd the vine weeps,My loveWhat is going away.You pass by meDo not talk to me,Guard respect to someone,You can go and talk,Respect who you want.Cries the vine,Cries the pusher,Cries the vine,Oh my gift.Cries the vineAnd the vine weeps,Goodbye loveI'm leaving ...

11. “Green corn” is a popular song from Beira Baixa, other region of Portugal. It talks about the gathering of the corn and the love. As you can see love is always present. This version is singed by Zeca Afonso, one of our great singers.

12. “Milho Verde”

13. Milho verde Green Corn Milho verde, milho verdeMilho verde maçarocaÀ sombra do milho verdeNamorei uma cachopaMilho verde, milho verdeMilho verde miudinhoÀ sombra do milho verdeNamorei um rapazinhoMilho verde, milho verdeMilho verde folha largaÀ sombra do milho verdeNamorei uma casadaMondadeiras do meu milhoMondai o meu milho bemNão olheis para o caminhoQue a merenda já lá vem Corn, green cornGreen corn cobIn the shadow of green cornI dated a girl Green corn, green cornGreen small corn In the shadow of green cornI dated a boyGreen corn, green cornBroadleaf green cornIn the shadow of green cornI dated a married womenGatherer of my cornWell gather my corn Do not look to the pathThat there is already lunch

14. And we can search more and more and we find always the same.Love to be sung with the cycles of crops.Something that is possibly due to the parties that would take place at the end of them.

15. Bibliography http://www.losacordes.com/piano/musica-popular-portuguesa/a-rama http://dlac.utad.pt/SiteLiteratura/Valpacos%20-%20Vassal_CL2.pdf http://natura.di.uminho.pt/~jj/musica/html/zecafonso-milhoVerde.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLs-4b2m3Dg&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh0co2F-Q8c