“Portuguese Folk Songs” Project Socrates Comenius “Green Harmony” Agrupamento de Escolas de Campo Maior Portugal

In Portuguese folk songs there are undoubtedly a lot of them related in any way with agriculture and seasonal crops. It would be a hard work to collect and try to organize them.

So start by perhaps the most popular: “Oh rama que linda rama”. Folk song from the Alentejo, (our region), speaks of the olive tree and its foliage, love singing, and making an apology not of fortune, but happiness from exercising freely in nature.

“Oh what a lovely foliage” Chorus Oh what a lovely folliage Oh the olive branch, My pair is the most beautiful, Walking the entire wheel here. Walking the entire wheel here, Here and everywhere... Oh oh what a beautiful foliage and stems, Oh the olive branch. Chorus I really like to hear Who learned to sing. If there had who taught me, Who was I learned! Chorus M not 'envy of those who have Mules, horses and mountains; Only m 'envy of drinkers The water on all sources. Chorus I went to the drink water source, I found a green branch; Who'd lost loves, Who thought he was thirsty. Chorus Under the olive tree You can not dating; The leaf is petite, Lets the moonlight “Oh Rama que linda rama” Refrão Oh rama que linda rama, Oh rama da oliveira, O meu par é o mais lindo, Que anda aqui na roda inteira. Que anda aqui na roda inteira, Aqui e em qualquer lugar… Oh rama e oh que linda rama, Oh rama do olival. Eu gosto muito de ouvir Cantar a quem aprendeu. Se houvera quem me ensinara, Quem aprendia era eu! Refrão Não m' invejo de quem tem Parelhas, éguas e montes; Só m' invejo de quem bebe A água em todas as fontes. Refrão Fui à fonte beber água, Encontrei um ramo verde; Quem o perdeu tinha amores, Quem o achou tinha sede. Refrão Debaixo da oliveira Não se pode namorar; A folha é miudinha, Deixa passar o luar.

We may find the lyrics and the strains for guitars or piano, at: popular-portuguesa/a-rama

“Oh rama que linda rama” (Click in the image to see the video)

And here is another song that would be sung at harvest time. “Chora a Videira”

“Chora a videira”

A Videira Dá cá um beijo, Ó prenda minha. Chora a videira E à videira chora, O meu amor Que se vai embora. Tu passas por mim Não me falas, Guarda respeito a alguém, Podes passar e falar, Respeitar quem te quer. Chora a videira, Chora a videirinha, Chora a videira, Ó prenda minha. Chora a videira E à videira chora, Adeus amor Que me vou embora … Chora a videira, A videira chora, Chora a videira Que se vai embora … Ó videira, dá-me um cacho, Ó cacho, dá-me um baguinho, Deu-se os olhos um aceno, Deu-se a boca um beijinho. Chora a videira E a videira chora, Chora a videira Que se vai embora … Chora a videira, Deixai-a chorar, Chora a videira, Que nos vai deixar. Ó amor, p’ra ser amor Não deve ser int’resseiro, Se queres a minha aliança, Dá-me o teu anel primeiro. Chora a videira, Chora a videirinha,

The Vine Cries the vine, The vine weeps, Cries the vine What is going away... Oh vine, give me a bunch, Oh cluster, gives me a grape, He gave a nod to the eyes, He gave her mouth a little kiss. Cries the vine And the vine weeps, Cries the vine What is going away... Cries the vine, Let her cry Cries the vine, Will leave us. Love, be love There should not be selfish If you want my covenant, Give me your ring first. Cries the vine, Cries the pusher, Give me a kiss Oh my gift. Cries the vine And the vine weeps, My love What is going away. You pass by me Do not talk to me, Guard respect to someone, You can go and talk, Respect who you want. Cries the vine, Cries the pusher, Cries the vine, Oh my gift. Cries the vine And the vine weeps, Goodbye love I'm leaving...

“Green corn” is a popular song from Beira Baixa, other region of Portugal. It talks about the gathering of the corn and the love. As you can see love is always present. This version is singed by Zeca Afonso, one of our great singers.

“Milho Verde”

Milho verde Green Corn Milho verde, milho verde Milho verde maçaroca À sombra do milho verde Namorei uma cachopa Milho verde, milho verde Milho verde miudinho À sombra do milho verde Namorei um rapazinho Milho verde, milho verde Milho verde folha larga À sombra do milho verde Namorei uma casada Mondadeiras do meu milho Mondai o meu milho bem Não olheis para o caminho Que a merenda já lá vem Corn, green corn Green corn cob In the shadow of green corn I dated a girl Green corn, green corn Green small corn In the shadow of green corn I dated a boy Green corn, green corn Broadleaf green corn In the shadow of green corn I dated a married women Gatherer of my corn Well gather my corn Do not look to the path That there is already lunch

And we can search more and more and we find always the same. Love to be sung with the cycles of crops. Something that is possibly due to the parties that would take place at the end of them.

Bibliography b2m3Dg&feature=player_detailpage