Rainy Rio

We had a bit of a storm last night. I woke up around 2am (I think) to what sounded like a train coming past the window. A few minutes later the lightning started – it produced an effect similar to a small child playing with the light switch. I got up and closed all the windows in the house at the same time as the torrential rain started up. Unfortunately we don’t have particularly well sealed windows so even though they were closed, rain started coming in through the cracks on one side of the house.

I decided to go back to bed and deal with it in the morning. Just as I was drifting off I heard a heavy thonk sound from the roof and wondered vaguely what it might be. Turns out it was this:

Shame about the pot…

 

I went up onto the roof this morning to find all kinds of debris from the storm – leaves and branches, random bit of rubbish and this, a broken pot. The pot is not such a big disaster as in truth I hated that ugly plant and had been planning to get rid of it (a job I have been meaning to get round to for weeks now). It would have been nice to reuse the pot, but hey-ho, at least this should spur me into getting the job done now.

On my way to work there were more signs of the storm (the sign is not normally hanging down like that).

When friends visit and the weather is bad I feel somehow guilty about it – it’s just not what you expect is it? Rio is meant to be sunny! About a year ago a couple of friends from England were in Rio for 10 full days and didn’t see one day of sunshine. I met them after they’d been up to see the Cristo (Christ the Redeemer Statue) and when I asked if the view had been any good they replied “We could just see his head”. Disappointing.

Last November I got really fed up as the weather seemed to be conspiring against me. All week it would be hot and sunny and then, when the weekend came around, it would be like this.

Still, all this moaning was brought into stark perspective just a few months later when the Serrana region of Rio State was hit by massive landslides which caused more than 900 deaths and huge destruction. Hard to believe it was less than a year ago.
Well, there’ll be plenty of rain for my Northern hemisphere readers in the coming months and, looking at the weather forecast, it looks like we’ll have plenty more this week in Rio. So how about some samba to lift our spirits?

Man, I just love this stuff. The lyrics are brilliant – romantic/soppy/poetic in equal measure and it would sound hideous if sung in English. But just so the non-Portuguese speakers get some idea of what she’s saying, here is my raggedy translation:

The rain is falling outside
You’re going to get wet
I’ve asked you already, don’t leave
Wait for the weather to improve
Even nature itself
Is telling you to stay here


Answer the call of someone who adores you
Wait a little
Don’t go now


You staying here will make a heart happy
That is tired of suffering disillusionment
I hope that nature 
changes your mind…

8 replies
  1. Anonymous
    Anonymous says:

    very good!

    Answer the call of someone who adores you
    I hope the weather will improve
    Don't go yet

    Answer the call of someone who adores you
    ESPERE UM POUCO =WAIT A LITTLE
    Don't go yet

    Reply
  2. Tom Le Mesurier
    Tom Le Mesurier says:

    I've always found it a bit confusing that you have the same word for "wait" and "hope" (esperar). And "time" and "weather" (tempo)… I guess the context should make it clear, but it can still bamboozle me at times…

    Clearly time for me to step up my Portuguese study!

    Reply
  3. Manuela Andreoni
    Manuela Andreoni says:

    I think the correct translation would be "time" for "tempo", since in the original lyrics it says "Tempo", with a capital "T" – which means the great idea of time. Of course it's possible that the author wanted the word to mean both "time" and "weather", as it contributes to the poetic message of the song. But, since we are translating here and there's only one word we can use to do it, I'd chose "time" to emphasise the poetry in the lyrics.
    Have to defend my husband here!

    Reply
  4. The Gritty Poet
    The Gritty Poet says:

    "The lyrics are brilliant – romantic/soppy/poetic in equal measure and it would sound hideous if sung in English"

    Not sure, I think this sounds better than the song featured in the post. Different lyrics for sure but still.

    ———————-

    (the sign is not normally hanging down like that)

    LOL.

    Btw been listening to a compatriot of yours on itunes. His name is Frank Skinner. Very good.

    Reply
  5. Tom Le Mesurier
    Tom Le Mesurier says:

    Nice one Gritty! I'm all for musical positivity in the face of rain :) Wow, Frank Skinner, haven't heard from him in a while – funny guy. I remember him describing eating oysters as being "like licking phlegm off a tortoise"!

    Reply

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