Canto de Iemanjá [English translation]

Iemanja, Iemanja 1

Iemanja, It's Lady Janaina coming 2

Iemanja, Iemanja

Iemanja it's a lot of sadness coming

Comes from moonlight in the sky

Comes from moonlight

On the flower-covered sea, love 3

From Iemanja

From Iemanja singing love

And admiring herself

On the sad moon in the sky, love

Sad on the sea

If you want to love

If you want love

Come with me to Salvador4

To listen to Iemanja

Singing, in the leaving tide 5

And in the coming tide6

From the end, even deeper, of the sea

Well beyond

Well beyond the end of the sea

Well beyond

1. Afro-brazilian deity of the sea, in religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda. She's also known as queen of the sea, deity of maternity, mother of all orixás (other deities) and is associated with the moon 2. She is also known as Janaína. In some regions, she's also been incorporated into folklore, Janaína being perceived as a mermaid 3. May be a reference to the celebrations in her name, in which people offer goods to her, such as flowers, by throwing them at the sea4. Capital of the state of Bahia, that has the largest black population in Brazil, whose culture is heavily influenced by its african heritage, collecting many believers in afro-brazilian religions5. It carries a double meaning in the original, may also be translated as ''low tide'', or ''lowering tide''6. Could also be ''high tide'' or ''increasing tide''