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Morna LullabyMorna Lullaby
A lullaby from Cape Verde

Morna Lullaby

Key: A minor~53 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Sao Vicente, Cape Verde
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Morna Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the port town of Mindelo on Cape Verde’s Sao Vicente island, birthplace of the soulful morna ballad tradition. Morna is often described as Cape Verde’s own blues, built around saudade, a deep, bittersweet longing, and it was carried to the world by Cesaria Evora, the barefoot singer from Mindelo who became known internationally as Cape Verde’s greatest musical voice. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.

Verse

Am Dm Am
Sleep now, mai’s little one, the guitar strings are still,
Dm Am E7
the harbor lights of Mindelo glow, upon the island hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the ocean breeze is near,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep now, mai’s little one, the guitar strings are still, the harbor lights of Mindelo glow, upon the island hill. Sleep now, little one, the ocean breeze is near, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E7
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
Good to know

What “Morna Lullaby” Means

“Mai” means mother in Cape Verdean Kriolu. The port town of Mindelo on Sao Vicente island is the birthplace of morna, a soulful ballad tradition made famous worldwide by singer Cesaria Evora. This original lullaby draws on those harbor and ballad-music images of Cape Verdean island life, with “mai” used as a warm address rather than a literal translation.

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Sources & rights

  • An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
  • Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
  • Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
  • Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.

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