Navega

Mayra Andrade's song 'Navega' is a poignant exploration of love, longing, and the harsh realities faced by fishermen and their families. The lyrics, sung in Cape Verdean Creole, paint a vivid picture of the emotional landscape of those who wait for their loved ones to return from the sea. The song opens with a lament for the life of the sea ('vida di már') and the life of the fisherman ('vida di piskador'), immediately setting a tone of melancholy and deep emotional resonance.

The narrator expresses a profound sense of anguish and love, waiting at the dock ('kais di bu partida') for the return of their beloved. The imagery of tears ('lágrimas di amor') and the plea to God to calm the sea ('pa bránda már') highlight the constant fear and hope that define the lives of those connected to the sea. This duality of fear and hope is a central theme, as the narrator prays for the safe return of the fisherman, wishing for a day of rest and peace ('um diâ más diskansádu').

The song also touches on the spiritual and ritualistic aspects of this life, with the mention of the fisherman's wife lighting a candle each night ('um véla pa kada noti') and the sound of the conch shell ('som di nha búziu') serving as a symbolic connection to the sea and the loved one. The repeated calls to the sea and the sky ('Oh már! oh seu!') to bring the fisherman back safely underscore the deep emotional and spiritual bond between the narrator and the fisherman. 'Navega' is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the resilience and enduring hope of those who live by the sea, capturing the essence of love, longing, and the human spirit.