Por Enquanto Lyrics in English by Legião Urbana
Enquanto means "while" or "as long as," but in the context of this song, it takes on a more nuanced meaning of "for a while" or "for the time being."
The song title, "Por Enquanto," literally translates to "For Now" or "For the Time Being." It perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet theme of temporary love and the acceptance that even things believed to be "forever" eventually end. This word is key to understanding the song's melancholic reflection on change and impermanence.
Legião Urbana open this one with a neat little paradox: "Mudaram as estações e nada mudou" (The seasons changed and nothing changed). Time has moved on, the singer insists nothing is different, and in the very next breath he admits "alguma coisa aconteceu" (something happened). That push and pull is the whole song.
The line everyone remembers is "Que o pra sempre sempre acaba" (That forever always ends). It plays on the word sempre twice: pra sempre (short for para sempre) means "forever", and the plain sempre means "always". It is a sad thought, but he does not stay there. "Mas nada vai conseguir mudar o que ficou" (But nothing will be able to change what remained), and when he thinks of anyone, "Só penso em você" (I only think of you).
Listen for "a gente" in "Se lembra quando a gente..." (Remember when we...). Literally it is "the people", but in everyday Brazilian Portuguese it simply means "we", and it takes a singular verb. The ending is quietly lovely: "Agora tanto faz" (Now it doesn't matter), "Estamos indo de volta pra casa" (We're going back home).
