Roda Viva Lyrics Translation in English

Ivan Lins
Report Submitted!

Portuguese Lyrics

English Translation

Tem dias que a gente se sente

There are days when we feel

Como quem partiu ou morreu

Like someone who left or died

A gente estancou de repente

We suddenly stopped

Ou foi o mundo então que cresceu

Or was it the world that grew

A gente quer ter voz ativa

We want to have an active voice

No nosso destino mandar

To command our destiny

Mas eis que chega a roda viva

But behold, the wheel of life arrives

E carrega o destino pra lá

And carries destiny away


Roda mundo, roda-gigante

Wheel of the world, Ferris wheel

Rodamoinho, roda pião

Spinning mill, spinning top

O tempo rodou num instante

Time turned in an instant

Nas voltas do meu coração

In the turns of my heart


A gente vai contra a corrente

We go against the current

Até não poder resistir

Until we can't resist anymore

Na volta do barco é que sente

On the return of the boat is when one feels

O quanto deixou de cumprir

How much was left undone

Faz tempo que a gente cultiva

We've been cultivating for a long time

A mais linda roseira que há

The most beautiful rose bush there is

Mas eis que chega a roda viva

But behold, the wheel of life arrives

E carrega a roseira pra lá

And carries the rose bush away


Roda mundo, roda-gigante

Wheel of the world, Ferris wheel

Rodamoinho, roda pião

Spinning mill, spinning top

O tempo rodou num instante

Time turned in an instant

Nas voltas do meu coração

In the turns of my heart


A roda de saia, a mulata

The swirling skirt, the mulatto

Não quer mais rodar, não senhor

Doesn't want to spin anymore, no sir

Não posso fazer serenata

I can't serenade

A roda de samba acabou

The samba circle is over

A gente toma a iniciativa

We take the initiative

Viola na rua, a cantar

Violin in the street, singing

Mas eis que chega a roda viva

But behold, the wheel of life arrives

E carrega a viola pra lá

And carries the violin away


Roda mundo, roda-gigante

Wheel of the world, Ferris wheel

Rodamoinho, roda pião

Spinning mill, spinning top

O tempo rodou num instante

Time turned in an instant

Nas voltas do meu coração

In the turns of my heart


O samba, a viola, a roseira

The samba, the violin, the rose bush

Um dia a fogueira queimou

One day the bonfire burned

Foi tudo ilusão passageira

It was all a fleeting illusion

Que a brisa primeira levou

That the first breeze took away

No peito a saudade cativa

In the chest, the captive longing

Faz força pro tempo parar

Makes an effort for time to stop

Mas eis que chega a roda viva

But behold, the wheel of life arrives

E carrega a saudade pra lá

And carries the longing away


Roda mundo, roda-gigante

Wheel of the world, Ferris wheel

Rodamoinho, roda pião

Spinning mill, spinning top

O tempo rodou num instante

Time turned in an instant

Nas voltas do meu coração

In the turns of my heart

Added by Eduardo Oliveira
São Luís, Brazil November 3, 2024
Be the first to rate this translation
Other Songs to Explore
Comment