Rua de Camões - Official Video

Title: Rua de Camões
Artist: Santino & me
Description:
"Rua de Camões" tells the poignant story of João Manuel Santos, a poor retornado from Angola. Through vivid lyrics and emotional melodies, the song captures João's struggles and dreams as he navigates life in Portugal after returning from war-torn Angola.
Lyrics:
Chorus
No choice, no chance, life in chapters,
Countryside to Camões, chasing after.
Melodies rise, turning pain to laughter,
Life so tough, but my dreams won't shatter.
Verse 1
No choice in the matter, yo, what's the matter?
At fourteen, my world shattered, mom's gone, I'm scattered.
Father left for Portugal, when I was young,
War in Angola, forced me to run.
Sent to Luanda, work was the aim,
Heard of jobs in the city, survival the game.
Chorus
No choice, no chance, life in chapters,
Countryside to Camões, chasing after.
Melodies rise, turning pain to laughter,
Life so tough, but my dreams won't shatter.
Verse 2
In Luanda, found no peace, just strife,
Joined the mob, to carve out a life.
Met folks from Cape Verde, Guinea's land,
Together we hustled, making a stand.
Saw the post-war struggles, felt the pain,
Dreamt of Portugal, to break the chain.
Saved every dime, bought a one-way ticket,
To Portugal's shores, my dreams as the wicket.
Chorus
No choice, no chance, life in chapters,
Countryside to Camões, chasing after.
Melodies rise, turning pain to laughter,
Life so tough, but my dreams won't shatter.
Bridge
Landed in Lisboa, streets so dark,
People so distant, their eyes so stark.
My father's house was empty, old,
No money in hand, but a will so bold.
Verse 3
Breaking stones, "calçada" in the hot sun,
Sweat on my brow, no work to be done.
Portuguese walk by, eyes on the ground,
I question if better in Africa, life bound.
I sing my song in shadows, hope in my heart,
Facing each day, tearing me apart.
Fighting for a life, in this foreign land,
Struggling, dreaming, making my stand.
Chorus
No choice, no chance, life in chapters,
Countryside to Camões, chasing after.
Melodies rise, turning pain to laughter,
Life so tough, but my dreams won't shatter.
© Santino & me 2024. All rights reserved.