Chegou Tão Tarde Lyrics in English Sara Correia

Home / Lyrics Translation / Sara Correia / Chegou Tão Tarde

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Chegou Tão Tarde by Sara Correia from Portuguese to English.

Verse 1

My love arrived so late

And my song drifted off

The thistles gave no sign

And the wood didn't creak

But what a lovely house

It was dressed in portraits

But the story that was written

Can't be unstitched

My love arrived so late

On cotton tiptoes

I had sand in my hair

And another light in my heart

Our story was beautiful

I'll keep it while you sleep

'Cause even love can't believe

That you threw it away like that

My love

I must let you leave

If you don't burn for me anymore

If the heart wanted it that way

I must let you move on

Go, 'cause I need to cry in peace

And with every step you take

I get closer to myself

Verse 2

I was madness, I was courage

I was sadness and I was splendor

Everything that made me love you

I'll keep, and without rancor

I build my fort in misfortune

Like I've done so many times

'Cause even love can't believe

Who can't be happy

My love

I must let you leave

If you don't burn for me anymore

If the heart wanted it that way

I must let you move on

Go, 'cause I need to cry in peace

And with every step you take

I get closer to myself

Go, 'cause I need to cry in peace

And with every step you take

I get closer to myself

Did you like these lyrics?

SONG MEANING

Chegou Tão Tarde takes us to the quiet hallway of a Portuguese home where love slips in on pezinhos de algodão (cotton-soft feet) long after it is welcome. Sara Correia paints the scene with typical fado imagery – creaking wood, framed photographs, dry thistles that give no warning. The singer looks back on a romance that was beautiful, yet arrived too late to survive. Instead of begging, she grants a bittersweet farewell: if the fire is gone, he must leave so she can "chorar em paz" (cry in peace) and, step by step, come back to herself.

More than a lament, the song is a quiet declaration of self-worth. Correia acknowledges every shade of the relationship – madness, courage, sadness, splendor – and pockets each memory without bitterness. Letting go hurts, but it is proof of strength; with every goodbye the narrator moves closer to her own heart. Rich in poetic Portuguese and fado soul, this track teaches that sometimes love’s greatest act is opening the door and finding freedom on the other side.

Did you know?

In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Portuguese with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.

No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.

Sara Correia Chegou Tão Tarde Lyrics