PORTUGUESE LYRICS

Heróis do mar, nobre povo,
Naçao valente, imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
Os esplendor de Portugal
Entre as brumas da memória.
Ó Pátria sente-se a voz
Dos teus egrégios avós
Que há-de guiar-te à vitória. 

CHORUS:
Às armas! Às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar!
Às armas! Às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar! 
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar! 

Desfralda a invicta bandeira
À luz viva do teu céu
Brade a Europa à terra inteira
Portugal não pereceu!
Beija o solo teu jucundo
O oceano a rujir d'amor;
E o teu braço vencedor
Deu mundos novos ao mundo!

CHORUS

Saudai o sol que desponta
Sobre um ridente porvir;
Seja o eco d'uma afronta
O sinal de ressurgir.
Raios d'essa aurora forte
São como beijos de mãe
Que nos guardam, nos sustêm,
Contra as injúrias da sorte

CHORUS

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 
Heroes of the sea, noble race,
Valiant and immortal nation,
Now is the hour to raise up on high once more
Portugal's splendour.
From out of the mists of memory,
Oh Homeland, we hear the voices
Of your great forefathers
That shall lead you on to victory!

CHORUS:
To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Unfurl the unconquerable flag
In the bright light of your sky!
Cry out all Europe and the whole world
That Portugal has not perished.
Your happy land is kissed
By the Ocean that murmurs with love.
And your conquering arm
Has given new worlds to the world!

CHORUS

Salute the Sun that rises
On a smiling future:
Let the echo of an insult be
The signal for our revival.
The rays of that powerful dawn
Are like a mother's kisses
That protect us and support us
Against the insults of fate.

CHORUS

 


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Portugal
"A Portugesa" (The Portuguese Song)

Words by: Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
Music by:Alfredo Keil
Adopted:1910

At the end of the 19th century, "A Portuguesa," was written by the republicans,
upset over the British ultimatum to Portugal regarding Africa. Anywhere there
was protests against the monarchy as a result, "A Portuguesa" could be heard.
The song still echoes the original intent, the verses and especially the chorus
speak of a call to arms, the third verse speaks of "insults" and
"embarrassment" (which is how the Portuguese saw the British ultimatum), and
the original last line of the chorus read "Contra os bretões marchar, marchar"
(Against the British we march, we march!). With the success of the Republicans
in ousting the monarchy and replacing them with a democratic government, "A
Portuguesa" was approved as a national anthem shortly after in 1911, it is the
first verse and chorus that is usually presented as the anthem.

In 1956, there were a number of variations of the anthem, not just in its
melodic line but also in the instrumentation. Recognizing this, the government
named a commission charged with determining the official version of "A
Portuguesa." This commission prepared a proposal which, approved by the Council
of Ministers on 16 July 1957, remains in effect to this day.

See also: Portugal_(1809-1834), Portugal_(1834-1910), Azores, Madeira_Islands.

