Saudade de Mãe

It seems like I'm hearing a song around here
It's what my mother used to sing
Where we lived, to cheer the heart
That's why I ask for permission

So that in your presence I can confide
In the celebration
That everyone loves, the queen of the home

We also, in the backcountry
Celebrate this beloved date
Of our dear little mother
Who took our little hand
And guided the first steps of life

Mother, oh what a sacred word that even Jesus
Used to say with such happiness
Mother deserves worship
Whether in my backcountry or here in the city

We lived in the countryside
There we have our little hut
Which now lies abandoned
There lived our dear mother
Who, despite being poor
Was always resigned

She fought to raise her children always with so much affection
She used to say: My child, be careful
Be humble and polite to everyone you meet

How many nights she spent without lying in bed
She stayed up all night by my side
My son is delirious
Is he dreaming or is he sick

Always a concern squeezed the heart
Of my dear old lady
See what a pure love
For the child, I swear the mother gives her own life

But one day, my friends
Tears come when I say what happened to me
They came to me saying
Caboclo, they're calling you, your little mother has passed away

I felt a lump in my throat
My sadness was so great that I couldn't even speak
No matter how much I imagined, thought about everything
I couldn't believe it

When I saw my little mother
That saintly old lady lying on the coffin
I thought: God of charity
You who are power and kindness, give us consolation

That's why I want to say
Whoever has a mother should worship her, never mistreat her
Because when she dies, that's when the child sees
The absence of the mother