A Virxe Do Portovello Lyrics in English by Rozalén, Tanxugueiras

Portovello translates to "Old Port" and is a unique place name that immediately sparks curiosity.

In the song, it refers to "A Virxe do Portovello" (The Virgin of Portovello), a local patron saint or figure. This word grounds the song in a specific cultural and geographical context, making it interesting for learners to discover the story behind it.

This song is a beautiful, melancholic journey into the heart of a singer who uses music to cope with sorrow. The opening lines, "Eu canto para olvidare / As penas que levo dentro / Para así non me matare" (I sing to forget / The sorrows I carry inside / So that they don't kill me), immediately tell us that singing is a lifeline, a way to process deep pain and survive it.

Then, the song introduces the "Virxe do Portovello" (Virgin of Portovello), a figure with her face turned towards the sea, watching the sailors return from fishing. This imagery is so vivid! Later, we learn that this Virgin "Non deixa mais de chorar / Chora por aquela xente / Que deixa a vida no mar" (Doesn't stop crying / Cries for those people / Who leave their lives in the sea). It's a powerful connection between personal grief and the collective sorrow of a community tied to the sea, mourning those lost. The repeated lines about "Polo mar abaixo vai o meu amor" (Down by the sea goes my love) and a little boat near the train tracks add another layer of longing and perhaps a sense of a journey, or a loved one's absence, making this song a truly moving experience.