Carmen Miranda and Mamae eu quero!

During the closing ceremonies for the 2016 Rio Olympics, hidden among other songs was one that was a big hit with my groups when I was growing up in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  More people in that city have Portuguese ancestors than in any city in Portugal except Lisbon.  So, of course, one could hear songs with Portuguese lyrics everywhere.

My favorites were fados.. those kind of sad songs usually sung by sultry ladies in sexy voices.  Often, during our mandatory Thursday night walks through the downtown and the North End of town, we would stop outside of Portuguese themed taverns and listen to the fados coming out of the open door.

However, we also liked the songs that Carmen Miranda sang, but especially one of them:



Mamae eu quero

Some folks translated this title as "Mommy, I want Mommy!" ..  some folks translated this title as "Mommy, I want it!"  Whatever... here are the lyrics in Portuguese (without letter modifications):

(Refrao:)

Mamae eu quero, mamae eu quero,
Mamae eu quero, mamar!
Da a chupeta, ai, da a chupeta, ai, da a chupeta,
Da a chupeta pro bebe nao chorar.

Dome filhinho do meu coracao
Pega a mamadeira en vem entra no meu cordao
Eu tenho uma ima que se chana Ana
De piscar o olho ja ficore sem a pestana.

(Refrao)

Eu olho as perquenas, mas dapiede jeito
E tenho muita pena nao ser crianca de patio.
Eu tenho uma ima que e fenomenal
Ela e da bossa e o marido e um bocal.

(Refrao)

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I apologize to  my Portuguese friends.  I have not kept up with the language since I was in grade school, and I didn't know that much then.  I do love to hear spoken Portuguese.... of course, when I was growing up I heard it with a New Bedford accent.

What does it all mean?

Well, I found a translation on the internet done by somebody called EVFOKAS (first name is Evan, I believe)... So...now for the surprising English words:

(Chorus)

Mommy, I want mommy,
I want mommy
I want to suckle!
Give..the nipple,
give  the nipple,
give the nipple,
so the baby won't cry!

Sleep, sonny of my heart
Take the feeding bottle
And come enter my group
I have a sister called Anna
She's blinking, so she's lost her eyelashes.

(Chorus)

I look at the little ones, but this way
I'm sorry I'm not suckling.
I have a sister, she's phenomenal
She's in bossa and her husband's an imbecile.

(Chorus)

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I assume "bossa" means "bossa nova."
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YouTube has Carmen Miranda singing this song.  I love the stupid thing.  It reminds me of my youth in that marvelous melting pot of a city named New Bedford, former whaling capital of the world, former textile capital of the world, and current fishing capital of the world.  Did you eat scallops or cod fish or flounder for supper?  Well, they probably were captured for you yesterday in waters close to New Bedford and processed through that port.

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