María la portuguesa [English translation]

In the moon-lit nights of carnations,

from Ayamonte to Vila Real,

heading down the river,

between sighs, a song comes & goes,

sung by María of her love of an Andalucian man,

María is the joy & the agony of the South.

She met this man

in a night of green wine (Verdelho?) & heat

she was caught up

between palms & fandangos,

and her heart was broken.

And on the beaches of Isla

they lost themselves,

as the waves crashed,

she kissed his mouth & gave in.

[Chorus]

Oh, María the portuguese,

from Ayamonte to Faro

this fado (mournful tune) is heard in bars

where bitter (Portuguese) wine is drunk.

Why does she sing sadly?

Why are her eyes shut?

For an ill-fated love,

for this song, for this pain.

Fado! Because I miss his eyes

Fado! Because I miss his mouth

Fado! Because he left on the river

Fado! Because he left in the shadows.

They say that the 'I love you' of a sailor

was the cause of her suffering

That he left one night

on a illegal prawn trawler.

In the shadows of the river, a shot was heard

And that this suffering

gave birth to the wailing of this song.

[Chorus]