Beija-flor das penas verdes

“Beija-flor das penas verdes” by Silveira e Silveirinha is a poignant and melancholic song that delves into themes of love, loss, and enduring sorrow. The song's title, which translates to “Green-Feathered Hummingbird,” serves as a metaphor for fleeting beauty and the delicate nature of life and love. The hummingbird is instructed to kiss the carnations in the garden but to avoid the white rose, which holds a special, sacred place in the narrator's heart. This white rose symbolizes the narrator's beloved, who has passed away, and the exclusivity of their love.

The lyrics recount a love story that begins with joy and ends in tragedy. The narrator describes a wedding day filled with hope and happiness, symbolized by the exchange of white roses and wedding rings. However, this happiness is short-lived as fate intervenes, taking the beloved away and leaving the narrator in a state of profound loneliness. The white rose, once a symbol of their union, now adorns the beloved's coffin, marking the transition from life to death and love to mourning.

The song's emotional depth is further highlighted in the third verse, where the narrator returns home to find their beloved lifeless. This moment marks the end of the narrator's happiness, leading to a period of intense grief. The repeated refrain, asking the green-feathered hummingbird to kiss all flowers except the white rose, underscores the narrator's enduring connection to their lost love and the pain of their absence. The song captures the universal experience of love and loss, resonating deeply with listeners who have faced similar heartaches.