A Banda Lyrics in English by Chico Buarque
Below, I translated the lyrics of the song A Banda by Chico Buarque from Portuguese to English.
Estava à toa na vida
I was idle in life
O meu amor me chamou
My love called me
Pra ver a banda passar
To watch the band go by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
A minha gente sofrida
My suffering people
Despediu-se da dor
Said goodbye to pain
Pra ver a banda passar
To watch the band go by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Verse 1
O homem sério que contava dinheiro parou
The serious man counting money stopped
O faroleiro que contava vantagem parou
The braggart showing off stopped
A namorada que contava as estrelas
The girlfriend counting the stars
Parou para ver, ouvir e dar passagem
Stopped to see, hear and give way
A moça triste que vivia calada sorriu
The sad girl who stayed silent smiled
A rosa triste que vivia fechada se abriu
The sad rose that stayed closed opened
E a meninada toda se assanhou
And all the kids got excited
Pra ver a banda passar
To watch the band go by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Chorus 1
Estava à toa na vida
I was idle in life
O meu amor me chamou
My love called me
Pra ver a banda passar
To watch the band go by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
A minha gente sofrida
My suffering people
Despediu-se da dor
Said goodbye to pain
Pra ver a banda passar
To watch the band go by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Verse 2
O velho fraco se esqueceu do cansaço e pensou
The frail old man forgot his fatigue and thought
Que ainda era moço pra sair no terraço e dançou
That he was still young, went out on the terrace and danced
A moça feia debruçou na janela
The ugly girl leaned on the window
Pensando que a banda tocava pra ela
Thinking the band was playing for her
A marcha alegre se espalhou na avenida e insistiu
The cheerful march spread along the avenue and kept on
A Lua cheia que vivia escondida surgiu
The full moon that stayed hidden appeared
Minha cidade toda se enfeitou
My whole city dressed up
Pra ver a banda passar cantando coisas de amor
To watch the band go by singing love songs
Mas para meu desencanto
But to my dismay
O que era doce acabou
The sweet thing was over
Tudo tomou seu lugar
Everything went back to its place
Depois que a banda passou
After the band passed
E cada qual no seu canto
And each one in their corner
Em cada canto uma dor
In every corner a pain
Depois da banda passar
After the band went by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Depois da banda passar
After the band went by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Depois da banda passar
After the band went by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Depois da banda passar
After the band went by
Cantando coisas de amor
Singing love songs
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Did you like this lyrics translation?
A Banda is Chico Buarque's vibrant tribute to the transformative magic of a marching band. In the song, the sudden arrival of the cheerful parade pulls everyone, from the stern banker and boastful lamplighter to the shy girl at her window, out of their daily routines. For a shining moment the whole town moves to the same rhythm; smiles bloom, roses open, and even the weary old man feels young enough to dance.
Yet the chorus carries a gentle warning: when the last note fades, ordinary life slips back into place and each person is left 'in their corner' with their own troubles. Chico's lyrics celebrate how music can unite and heal, while also reminding us that joy can be fleeting. The song invites listeners to savor every instant when melody conquers melancholy and to keep that sparkle alive after the band has passed.
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