Translation of “Canto de Ossanha”, by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes
Ossanha is an spiritual entity, one of the Orixás worshipped in african and afro/Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda. Ossanha is the Orixá responsible for the ritual and medicinal leaves and plants. The music tells about a very common use in Brazil, the witchcraft for love. In my city, Brasilia, you can easily see advertising offering such services. Thoug its efficiency is questionable, many people use it.
advertising offering every kind of sorcery, in a street of brazil
“Father Ambrosio”
“Solve your amorous and professional problems
Heal any kind of disease (even homossexuality) (…)”
The idea of this post came from some guys in youtube asking for a translation. For first, I tried to post it as a comment, but it was too long. Here it is… I hope it helps you.
Deaaá! Deerê! Deaaa!
The man who says “I give”
Don’t give
‘cause those who really give
Don’t tell
The man who says “I go”
Don’t go
‘cause when he went
He didn’t really wanted to
The man who says “I am”
Is not
‘cause those who really are say
I’m not
The man who says I’m there
Is not
‘cause nobody’s there
When they want
Pitiful is the man who falls
At the Ossanha’s chant
Traitor!
Pitiful is the man who looks for
Witchcraft of love
Go! Go! Go! Go!
I’ll not go!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
I’ll not go!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
I’ll not go!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
I’ll not go…
‘cause I’m nobody of going
Into talkin’ about forget
The sadness of a love
which’s gone
No!
I’m just going if it’s to watch
A star rising
In the morning of a new love
Friend “sinhô”
Saravá
Xangô told me to tell you
If it is Ossanha’s chant
Don’t go!
‘cause you’re going to regret very much
Ask your Orixá
Love’s only good when it hurts
Ask your Orixá
Love’s only good when it hurts…
(Orixá, also spelled “Orisha” is a kind of spiritual entity in the afro-brazilian religions such as Candomblé. Both “Xangô” and “Ossanha”, refered in the song are names of some orixás)
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Loving
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Suffering!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Crying!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Tell…
(in old-fashioned Portuguese, this last verse means something that would be translated like “Who Knows…”)
‘cause I’m nobody of going
Into talkin’ about forget
The sadness of a love
which’s gone
No!
I’m just going if it’s to watch
A star rising
In the morning of a new love
Friend “sinhô”
Saravá
(sinhô is an old-fashioned rural portuguese form that would be translated for something like “sir”. Saravá is a greeting used in some regions of Brazil wich have strong african influence, like the region of Bahia. It is a word with african origin)
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Loving
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Suffering!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Crying!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Tell…
Blog do Batman 
28/01/2011 às 22:28
Very useful translation. Beautiful lyrics by Vinicius. Thank you!
17/02/2011 às 18:17
our intent was to spread afro/brazilian culture. We’re sory for any eventual mistake in our english writting.
28/02/2011 às 7:23
Merci beaucoup pour cette traduction ; )
08/03/2011 às 8:39
thanks a lot!!!
excellent work.
the ad is wonderful.
23/04/2011 às 13:48
I’ve been wondering what this song is all about. Terima kasih. Muito obrigada ^_^
20/06/2011 às 1:36
bom demais
27/07/2011 às 10:19
Muito obrigado… sou americano que fala português mas isso foi dificil entender. Tenho estado ouvindo a versão da música que fez Rosalia de Souza, que também é boa. Mas bom ouvir a música original. Obrigado novamente pela tradução.
09/09/2011 às 16:44
I was introduced to this song by a recdording of Caterina Valente. The song has been haunting me ever since. Been looking for a translation for a long time. Obrigado! At last here it is.Hope the lyrics will sink in and start to make sense…
23/11/2011 às 17:45
Thank you so much for the translation! It is so useful to have it.
I knew this song,because is a very known one and for me the music was a little bit to common-sorry-.But few days before,in an important moment in my life,I have heard to song and descovering its name I wanted very much to understand the lyrics.Since,I am fascinated by the profound meaning of it.And there are some lines that I want to be sure of their sense:”que eu nao sou ninguem de ir em conversa de esquecer a tristeza de um amor que passou”-speaking french,italian and romanian,I feel that maybe it should be:I am not the one to go to talk about forgeting the sadness of a love which is gone”?It could be?
Gabi
03/03/2012 às 14:36
The most accurate translation is “I’m nobody of going into talk of forgetting”, that’s like “I’m nobody who goes into talk of forgetting” or, for the best understanding, “I’m not the kind of person who buys the chitchat of forgetting”.
04/10/2012 às 12:17
PLEASE NO, NO, NO, ” CHITCHAT” IS SO AMERICANIZED!! IT KILLS THE WHOLE FEELING OF THE SONG. I AGREE WITH WITH THE FIRST SUGGESTION BUT INSTEAD OF “IM NOBODY”, IT SHOULD SAY ” I AM NO ONE TO GO INTO TALK OF FORGETTING…” THANKS TO ALL FOR ALL COMMENTS
31/05/2015 às 18:13
I prefer ‘I am not one to talk about the sadness of a lost love’ or something like that. Beautiful song !
06/12/2011 às 21:51
More Vinicius de Moraes here:
http://easyjams.blogspot.com/2011/12/brasil-maior-vol-1-various-artists-1980.html
06/01/2012 às 15:03
Thanks a lot for this translation and comments!
03/03/2012 às 2:49
Actually, “sinhô” is the provincial form of “senhor”, which is “sir”. Also, here in Brazil, “Senhor” is our version of “Lord”, referring to God. If somebody seeks for accuracy I can mail my own translation. I also reccomend Maysa’s softer version.
08/03/2015 às 6:08
Can you please translate “canto de xango”? I would love to understand the of that song.
I have a slight idea as I am fluent in Spanish. However, is not enough!
Thank you!
08/03/2015 às 6:13
I would love to understand the song’s profound meaning!
Sorry for the misspell in the first comment.
27/04/2012 às 2:26
Hello everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this web site, and piece of writing is truly fruitful in favor of me, keep up posting such articles or reviews.
17/11/2012 às 9:39
Thanks a lot! Forget the nonsense by anonymos who thinks he knows better than a native speaker. You did a splendid job! Love, Charles
03/12/2012 às 0:01
Well, i live in Bahia and i was born here , so i can tell you if it doesn´t hurt anyone “Saravá” means alles gut für dich(German), and Wish you all the best (English), yes that´s right without the “i” first person. i hope this information to be usefull to someone…
26/01/2013 às 4:41
Thank you for doing this work for all of us. I have been playing Bossa Nova and Samba at piano and singing for a long time. Just now beginning to learn to sing and understand in Portuguese. This is wonderful, to know the deeper meanings of the words. The music is so strong, that it led me here. Much respect to you.
Max
17/03/2013 às 17:34
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26/09/2013 às 20:04
thank you so much for this translation and the notes on the context… i have fallen in love with this melody but could not understand the words… and now that i find out what they mean I love it even more!
17/10/2013 às 15:17
[…] of Candomblé and Umbanda (Afro-Brazilian religions) – if you’re curious, click here to see a rough translation and […]
23/02/2014 às 5:14
Thank you so much for this translation and explaining the meaning.
I play Bossa Nova guitar and study Portuguese, mainly in order to understand the beautiful songs I like so much to play.
Canto de Ossanha was always one of my favorites and now, understanding the meaning of it, I like it even more.
Your site is great man. Thanks!
23/02/2014 às 6:45
I’ve just been learning how to play this, having heard John Faheys cover of it (which he called ‘Let Go’). I’m not so sure Fahey gave credit to Baden Powell, but as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Then I heard Baden Powell play it singing, and looked for the translation. Thankyou very much, now I like it even more. The lyrics remind me of the profound wisdom of the Tao de Ching, which I mean as high praise.
02/03/2014 às 6:44
John Fahey was covering Bola Sete’s version of this song, which of course Bola got from Baden Powell. So it was filtered through Bola Sete to Fahey. When you understand the lyrics, calling it ‘Let’s Go’ actually makes a lot of sense 🙂
02/03/2014 às 18:37
Thanks, didn’t know Bola Sete had covered it. I’ll look for it. Probably just a typo, but the album it’s on, and Fahey’s version are called ‘Let Go’, not ‘Let’s Go’. Either way, I can see how it would fit the lyrics.
17/03/2014 às 13:30
[…] се убедите, че изключително силен китарист и музикант. Ето и за какво се пее в Canto de […]
24/07/2014 às 0:50
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21/08/2014 às 3:41
BEAUTIFUL, the COOLEST subtle blend of samba and bossa out there!!!!!! (And thanks SO MUCH for both the YT upload and the translation too, as well) =)
15/07/2015 às 4:54
[…] sent a link of the former viseo to a friend who is working in Brazil and happened across the Translation of “Canto de Ossanha” which I thought deserved linking […]
27/08/2015 às 4:29
What a beautiful composition, what a wonderful rhythm, what a nostalgic text
28/10/2015 às 8:08
Hi from America
18/11/2015 às 15:30
great translation, helped me out with a lot of concepts. was wondering though if another translation of
“Que eu não sou ninguém de ir
Em conversa de esquecer
A tristeza de um amor
Que passou”
might be
“i’m not the kind of person who tries to forget a passed love through talking about it”?
18/11/2015 às 15:34
What is a passed love ? This is not normal English.
17/12/2015 às 12:58
“Curo qualquer doença até viadagem” – cures any illness including “fagginess.” That’s a hilarious flyer. You are too kind translating “viadgem” This is one of my all time favorite songs.
28/06/2016 às 1:46
It’s hard to find well-informed people on this subject, however, you sound
like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
05/02/2017 às 18:41
beautiful lyrics and explanation. thank you!
18/03/2017 às 6:32
Thank you 🙂
01/04/2017 às 19:25
Thanks for the translation; interestingly I believe Baden Powell himself was reluctant to perform this song and few of his other early songs after converting to Christianity, due to their “pagan” overtones
06/12/2017 às 16:27
That is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Simple but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this one.
A must read article!
13/02/2018 às 23:25
Muito obrigado!
Я собираюсь сыграть эту песню в России и очень полезно прочитать о её смыслах
22/02/2018 às 20:21
[…] Astrud Gilberto – canto de ossanha […]
04/12/2018 às 18:14
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25/04/2019 às 12:30
Thank You so much for this. I realize how hard it is to convey from one language to another the idiomatic, entendre and nuance intended in poetry or song lyrics. THe comments also contributed to my understanding . I came across this most beautiful song and recognized the influence that this Great Talent had on Modern music. Thank you Brazil for Music the World listens to!
Muito obrigado por isso. Eu percebo o quão difícil é transmitir de uma língua para outra o idiomático, entendre e nuance pretendido em poesia ou letras de músicas. Os comentários também contribuíram para o meu entendimento. Eu me deparei com essa música mais linda e reconheci a influência que esse Grande Talento teve na música Moderna. Obrigado Brasil pela Música, o Mundo ouve!
01/04/2021 às 18:00
Obrigada!
03/09/2021 às 11:00
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Translation of “Canto de Ossanha”, by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes | Blog do Batman
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Translation of “Canto de Ossanha”, by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes | Blog do Batman
30/11/2023 às 21:14
[…] (a song for which I’ve found an interesting translation and story…here…) […]