Não venhas tarde!

Don’t be late!

This is one of my all-time favourite fados. The story of a man caught between two loves, the protagonist sings of the gentle loyalty and tenderness of his wife, her constant warmth and acceptance in always welcoming him home, even as her heart burns with jealousy. All the while, he acknowledges his own weakness, his inability to abandon the other woman, and give his wife the love she deserves.

This song was a great success for Carlos Ramos. Born in Lisbon in 1907, Ramos was one of the earliest fadistas to achieve fame within his native land. Invariably accompanying himself on the Portuguese guitar, he became a regular fixture in the fado houses of Lisbon in the 1940s and 1950s, which were then at the height of their success. You can hear in this song the sincerity and warmth of Ramos’ voice.


‘Don’t be late!’, his wife calls tenderly from the window. Yet he arrives home every day later still, possessing neither the strength, the will-power nor the courage to flee from the lover who has such a powerful hold on his heart. Although we may be tempted to condemn his actions, the sadness in his voice inspires only pity. He confesses that he is afraid; he recognises the vulnerability in his position. Ironically, since he never knows where his wife is going, perhaps, one day, he will arrive early, but it will be too late…

Carlos Ramos singing Não venhas tarde:







Não venhas tarde!
Não venhas tarde!
Dizes-me tu com carinho,
Sem nunca fazer alarde
Do que me pedes, baixinho.

Não venhas tarde!,
E eu peço a deus que no fim
Teu coração ainda guarde
Um pouco de amor por mim.

Tu sabes bem
Que eu vou p'ra outra mulher,
Que ela me prende também,
Que eu só faço o que ela quer,
Tu estás sentindo
Que te minto e sou cobarde,
Mas sabes dizer, sorrindo,
Meu amor, não venhas tarde!

Não venhas tarde!
Dizes-me sem azedume,
Quando o teu coração arde
Na fogueira do ciúme.

Não venhas tarde!
Dizes-me tu da janela,
E eu venho sempre mais tarde,
Porque não sei fugir dela

Tu sabes bem
Que eu vou p'ra outra mulher,
Que ela me prende também,
Que eu só faço o que ela quer,

Sem alegria,
Eu confesso, tenho medo,
Que tu me digas um dia,
Meu amor, não venhas cedo!

Por ironia,
Pois nunca sei onde vais,
Que eu chegue cedo algum dia,
E seja tarde demais!


Ne viens pas tard !
Ne viens pas tard,
Me dis-tu avec tendresse
Sans jamais faire des histoires
Tu me le demandes, doucement

Ne viens pas tard !
Et je demande à Dieu, qu’à la fin
Ton cœur gardera toujours
Un peu d’amour pour moi

Tu sais bien
Que je vais vers une autre femme
Que je suis liée à elle aussi
Et que je fais tout ce qu’elle veut

Tu sens
Que je te mens et que je suis lâche
Mais tu sais quand-même dire, souriante
Mon amour, ne viens pas tard!

Ne viens pas tard!
Me dis-tu, sans amertume
Alors que ton cœur brûle
Avec le feu de la jalousie

Ne viens pas tard!
Me dis-tu de la fenêtre
Et je viens chaque fois plus tard
Parce que je ne sais comment la fuir

Tu sais bien
Que je vais vers une autre femme
Que je suis liée à elle aussi
Et que je fais tout ce qu’elle veut

Sans joie,
Je confesse que j’ai peur
Que tu me dises un jour
Mon amour, ne viens pas tôt!

L’ironie, c’est que,
Puisque je ne sais jamais où tu vas
J’arriverai peut-être tôt un jour
Et il sera déjà trop tard.


Don’t be late!
Don’t be late!
You say to me, tenderly
Without ever making a fuss
You just ask of me, softly

Don’t be late!
And I beg of God that, in the end
Your heart will still keep
A little love for me

You know well
That I am going to another woman
That she too has captured me
And that I only do what she wishes

You are feeling
That I am lying to you, and am a coward
Yet you know how to say, still smiling,
My love, don’t be late!

Don’t be late,
You say to me, without bitterness
Whilst your heart is burning
With the fire of jealousy

Don’t be late,
You say to me, from the window
But I arrive every time later still
Because I don’t know how to escape from her

You know well
That I am going to another woman
That she too has captured me
And that I only do what she wishes

Joylessly,
I confess that I am afraid
That you will say to me one day,
My love, don’t be early!

Ironically,
Since I never know where you are going
Perhaps I will arrive early one day
And it will be too late.