Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Cheira A Lisboa by Amália Rodrigues from Portuguese to English.
Lisboa já tem Sol mas cheira a Lua
Lisbon already has sun but smells like the moon
Quando nasce a madrugada sorrateira
When the sneaky dawn is born
E o primeiro elétrico da rua
And the street's first tram
Faz coro com as chinelas da Ribeira
Joins in chorus with Ribeira's slippers
Se chove cheira a terra prometida
If it rains it smells like the promised land
Procissões têm o cheiro a rosmaninho
Processions carry the scent of rosemary
Nas tascas da viela mais escondidas
In the taverns of the most hidden alley
Cheira a iscas com elas e a vinho
It smells of iscas com elas and wine
Um cravo numa água furtada
A carnation in an attic window
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
Uma rosa a florir na tapada
A rose blooming in the park
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
A fragata que se ergue na proa
The frigate rising at the bow
A varina que teima em passar
The fishwife who insists on passing
Cheiram bem porque são de Lisboa
They smell good because they're from Lisbon
Lisboa tem cheiros de flores e de mar
Lisbon has scents of flowers and sea
Lisboa cheira aos cafés do Rossio
Lisbon smells of Rossio's cafés
E o fado cheira sempre a solidão
And fado always smells of loneliness
Cheira a castanha assada se está frio
It smells of roasted chestnut when it's cold
Cheira a fruta madura quando é verão
It smells of ripe fruit when it's summer
Nos lábios tem um cheiro de um sorriso
On its lips it has the scent of a smile
Manjerico tem cheiro de cantigas
Sweet basil smells of songs
E os rapazes perdem o juízo
And the boys lose their minds
Quando lhes dá o cheiro a raparigas
When the scent of girls hits them
Um cravo numa água furtada
A carnation in an attic window
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
Uma rosa a florir na tapada
A rose blooming in the park
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
A fragata que se ergue na proa
The frigate rising at the bow
A varina que teima em passar
The fishwife who insists on passing
Cheiram bem porque são de Lisboa
They smell good because they're from Lisbon
Lisboa tem cheiros de flores e de mar
Lisbon has scents of flowers and sea
Outro
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa
Smells good, smells like Lisbon
A fragata que se ergue na proa
The frigate rising at the bow
A varina que teima em passar
The fishwife who insists on passing
Cheiram bem porque são de Lisboa
They smell good because they're from Lisbon
Lisboa tem cheiros de flores e de mar
Lisbon has scents of flowers and sea
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by
LyricFind