Grândola, Vila Morena

"Grândola, Vila Morena" is a Portuguese song by Zeca Afonso, that tells of the fraternity among the people of Grândola, a town in the Alentejo. Salazar's Estado Novo regime considered the song to be associated with Communism, and as a result it was banned from being played or broadcast. On April 25, 1974, at 12:20AM the song was broadcast on Portuguese radio as a signal to start the revolution that overthrew the regime; it thus became commonly associated with the Carnation Revolution and the beginning of democratic rule in Portugal.

Grândola was first sung at a Zeca Afonso concert in Galicia´s capital of Santiago de Compostela, on May 10, 1972.

Lyrics

Grândola, vila morena Terra da fraternidade O povo é quem mais ordena Dentro de ti, ó cidade Dentro de ti, ó cidade O povo é quem mais ordena Terra da fraternidade Grândola, vila morena Em cada esquina um amigo Em cada rosto igualdade Grândola, vila morena Terra da fraternidade Terra da fraternidade Grândola, vila morena Em cada rosto igualdade O povo é quem mais ordena À sombra duma azinheira Que já não sabia a idade Jurei ter por companheira Grândola a tua vontade Grândola a tua vontade Jurei ter por companheira À sombra duma azinheira Que já não sabia a idade

Grândola, swarthy town* Land of fraternity It is the people who command Inside of you, oh city Inside of you, oh city It is the people who command Land of fraternity Grândola, swarthy town On each corner, a friend In each face, equality Grândola, swarthy town Land of fraternity Land of fraternity Grândola, swarthy town In each face, equality It is the people who command In the shadow of a holm oak Which no longer knew its age I swore to have your will as my companion, Grândola I swore to have your will as my companion, Grândola. In the shadow of a holm oak Which no longer knew its age

* Sometimes translated as "tanned village" or "brown village".

The highly disciplined verse form is notable. Each quatrain is followed by a quatrain that repeats the identical lines in reverse order.

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