Text & Translation
Para Ninar
Portuguese source:
Traditional
Que o menino é muito meu
Vai a noite em mais de meio
Ainda não adormeceu.
Meu menino pende o rosto
Reza baixinho e de cor.
São trindades, é sol posto,
Dorme, dorme, meu amor!
Deus de certo se enganou
Quando o meu filho nasceu.
Porque um anjo me mandou
E os anjos são do céu.
Meu menino, meu menino,
Altas horas a dormir.
Em que sonhas pequenino
Quando te vejo a sorrir?
Foge, foge, papão feio
Que o menino é muito meu
Vai a noite em mais de meio
Ainda não adormeceu.
Meu menino, meu menino,
Altas horas a dormir,
São trindades, é sol posto,
Dorme, dorme, meu amor!
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Dorme, dorme, meu amor.
Brazilian Cradle Song
English translation ©
Thomas Dervan
I'll have you know this boy's all mine
More than half the night’s already passed
And he's yet to fall asleep.
Lay down your head, my child
Pray quietly, and from your heart.
The Angelus calls, the sun is set,
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love!
God surely must have made some error
When my little son was born.
Because he sent me down an angel
And angels are meant to live in heaven.
My boy, my boy,
Now sleeping in the wee hours of the night.
What is it you're dreaming of, little one,
When I see you break a smile?
Begone, begone, ugly bogeyman
I'll have you know this boy's all mine
More than half the night’s already passed
And he's yet to fall asleep.
My boy, my boy,
Now sleeping in the wee hours of the night,
The Angelus calls, the sun is set,
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love!
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love.
-
**[1]** In the popular folklore of the lusophone world, the 'papão' or 'bicho-papão' is an imaginary being that can take on the form of any beast or creature. It is often portrayed as a monstrous animal with a penchant for eating children. In Brazil and Portugal, stories about the 'bicho-papão' are used by parents to scare children into behaving well.
Para Ninar
Portuguese source:
Traditional
Brazilian Cradle Song
English source:
Thomas Dervan
Foge, foge, papão feio
Begone, begone, ugly bogeyman **[1]**
Que o menino é muito meu
I'll have you know this boy's all mine
Vai a noite em mais de meio
More than half the night’s already passed
Ainda não adormeceu.
And he's yet to fall asleep.
Meu menino pende o rosto
Lay down your head, my child
Reza baixinho e de cor.
Pray quietly, and from your heart.
São trindades, é sol posto,
The Angelus calls, the sun is set,
Dorme, dorme, meu amor!
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love!
Deus de certo se enganou
God surely must have made some error
Quando o meu filho nasceu.
When my little son was born.
Porque um anjo me mandou
Because he sent me down an angel
E os anjos são do céu.
And angels are meant to live in heaven.
Meu menino, meu menino,
My boy, my boy,
Altas horas a dormir.
Now sleeping in the wee hours of the night.
Em que sonhas pequenino
What is it you're dreaming of, little one,
Quando te vejo a sorrir?
When I see you break a smile?
Foge, foge, papão feio
Begone, begone, ugly bogeyman
Que o menino é muito meu
I'll have you know this boy's all mine
Vai a noite em mais de meio
More than half the night’s already passed
Ainda não adormeceu.
And he's yet to fall asleep.
Meu menino, meu menino,
My boy, my boy,
Altas horas a dormir,
Now sleeping in the wee hours of the night,
São trindades, é sol posto,
The Angelus calls, the sun is set,
Dorme, dorme, meu amor!
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love!
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Dorme, dorme, meu amor
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love
Dorme, dorme, meu amor.
Get off to sleep, get off to sleep, my love.
Composer
Poet
Traditional
Traditional