Chico Buarque
Mulheres De Atenas lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Portuguese
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1976
- Genre
- MPB, Samba
- Length
- 4:21
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Look at the example of those women of Athens
Vivem pros seu maridos, orgulho e raça de Atenas
They live for their husbands, the pride and lineage of Athens
Quando amadas, se perfumam
When loved, they adorn themselves with perfume
Se banham com leite, se arrumam
They bathe in milk, they get ready
Suas melenas
Their beautiful hair
Quando fustigadas não choram
When whipped, they do not weep
Se ajoelham, pedem, imploram
They kneel, they plead, they implore
Mais duras penas
Stronger pains
Cadenas
Chains
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Look at the example of those women of Athens
Sofrem pros seus maridos, poder e força de Atenas
They suffer for their husbands, power and strength of Athens
Quando eles embarcam, soldados
When they embark, soldiers
Elas tecem longos bordados
They weave long embroideries
Mil quarentenas
A thousand quarantines
E quando eles voltam sedentos
And when they return thirsty
Querem arrancar violentos
They want to tear away violently
Carícias plenas
Full caresses
Obscenas
Obscene
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Look at the example of those women of Athens
Despem-se pros maridos, bravos guerreiros de Atenas
They undress for their husbands, brave warriors of Athens
Quando eles se entopem de vinho
When they drown themselves in wine
Costumam buscar o carinho
They often seek affection
De outras falenas
From other moths
Mas no fim da noite, aos pedaços
But by the end of the night, in pieces
Quase sempre voltam pros braços
They almost always return to the arms
De suas pequenas
Of their little ones
Helenas
Helens
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Let them look to the example of those women from Athens
Geram pros seus maridos os novos filhos de Atenas
They bear for their husbands the new children of Athens
Elas não têm gosto ou vontade
They have no taste or will
Nem defeito nem qualidade
Neither flaw nor virtue
Têm medo apenas
They are just afraid
Não têm sonhos, só têm presságios
They have no dreams, only omens
O seu homem, mares, naufrágios
Their man, seas, shipwrecks
Lindas sirenas
Beautiful sirens
Morenas
Brunettes
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Look at the example of those women from Athens
Temem por seus maridos, heróis e amantes de Atenas
They fear for their husbands, heroes and lovers of Athens
As jovens viúvas marcadas
The young widows marked
E as gestantes abandonadas
And the abandoned pregnant women
Não fazem cenas
They don't make a scene
Vestem-se de negro, se encolhem
Dressed in black, they huddle
Se conformam e se recolhem
They conform and withdraw
Às suas novenas
To their novenas
Serenas
Serene
Mirem-se no exemplo daquelas mulheres de Atenas
Look at the example of those women from Athens
Secam por seus maridos, orgulho e raça de Atenas
They waste away for their husbands, pride and race of Athens
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Key vocabulary
- mirem
- look
- daquelas
- those
- mulheres
- women
- atenas
- Athens
- vivem
- liveA1
- maridos
- husbandsA1
- orgulho
- pride
- amadas
- loved
- perfumam
- perfume
- banham
- bathe
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About this song
Chico Buarque is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, poet, novelist, and playwright associated with samba, bossa nova, and MPB. He is known for intricate harmonic work and lyrics that often engage politics and culture, including foundational recordings such as Construção and Calabar.