Song Lyric Sunday: “Manha de Carnaval”

Song Lyric Sunday, Song of the Day 2 Minutes

This week’s prompt, "Carnival, Festival, Gala, Jamboree, Party," was supplied to Jim by Lady A. (Sadly, I have no link to her…)

"Manha de Carnaval" ("Carnival Morning") is a song written by Luiz Bonfa with lyrics by Antonio Maria for the 1959 film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus). Wikipedia tells us "It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which is itself an adaptation of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in the modern context of a favela in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. The film was an international co-production among production companies in Brazil, France and Italy." Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote parts of the soundtrack, and the film fueled the popularity of bossa nova.

This is a version with the original Portuguese lyrics, sung by Carmen Monarcha, Carla Mafioletti, and Suzan Erens, with an orchestra led by Andre Rieu.

The lyrics, in both Portuguese and English, courtesy of LyricsTranslate.com:

Manhã tão bonita manhã
Na vida uma nova canção
Cantando só teus olhos
Teu riso, tuas mãos
Pois há de haver um dia em que virás

Das cordas do meu violão
Que só teu amor procurou
Vem uma voz,
falar dos beijos perdidos
Nos labios teus

Canta o meu coração
Alegria voltou
Tão feliz a manhã desse amor

[Instrumental Break]

Vem uma voz,
falar dos beijos perdidos
Nos labios teus

Canta o meu coração
Alegria voltou
Tão feliz a manhã desse amor

English translation:

Morning, what a beautiful morning
There is a new song in life
Singing just your eyes
Your laugh, your hands
Because there must be a day when you will go back

From the strings of my guitar
That your love sought out
There comes a voice
Speaking of lost kisses
Upon your lips

My heart is singing
Happiness has returned
How happy is the morning of this love

[Instrumental break]

There comes a voice
Speaking of lost kisses
Upon your lips

My heart is singing
Happiness has returned
How happy is the morning of this love

There are a number of English translations of the song. One was sung by Perry Como in 1963 as "Carnival."

Those lyrics from AZLyrics:

I’ll sing to the sun in the sky,
I’ll sing ’till the sun rises high,
Carnival time is here,
Magical time of year,
And as the time draws near,
Dreams lift my heart!

I’ll sing as I play my guitar,
I’ll cling to a dream from afar,
Will love come my way,
This carnival day,
And stay here in my heart?

Will true love come my way,
On this carnival day,
Or will I be alone with my dream?

"A Day In The Life Of A Fool" is another translation. It was done by Frank Sinatra. Lyrics are in the video.

And that, at last, is Song Lyric Sunday (and Song of the Day) for August 5, 2021.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

18 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: “Manha de Carnaval””

  1. Pingback: The Mid-September Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

  3. What a beautiful song. Love the harmonies and the violins. Perry Como’s and Frank Sinatra’s takes aren’t half bad either. In fact, both are very good too.

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    1. Perry had a number of bossa nova people on his show. It was the biggest thing in music at one point. Sinatra did at least two albums with Antonio Carlos Jobim in the early ’60’s. It must have been fun growing up with your father…

      Liked by 1 person

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