Nursery Rhymes›Nana, Nana, Meu Menino
Nana, Nana, Meu Menino
Key: Am~60 BPMGuitar & Piano chords
A gentle “canção de embalar” in the true Portuguese tradition — soft “nana” sounds that rock a child to sleep while mother finishes the wash and father works the fields. Here you will find a singable English adaptation, the meaning, and chords.
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Verse 1
Am Dm Am
Nana, nana, meu menino,
Dm Am E7
que a mãezinha logo vem.
(Hush now, hush, my little boy — your mama’s coming soon.)
Am Dm Am
Hush now, hush, my little one,
Dm Am E7
mama’s washing, almost done.
Verse 2
Am Dm Am
Dorme, dorme, meu menino,
Dm Am E7
que o teu pai anda a cavar.
(Sleep, sleep, my little boy — your papa’s out there in the field.)
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, sleep, my little dear,
Dm Am E7
papa’s working, he’ll be here.
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
Am
Guitar
Piano
Dm
Guitar
Piano
E7
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What this song means
Nana, Nana, Meu Menino belongs to the Portuguese tradition of “canções de embalar” — literally “rocking songs” — built from soft, wordless sounds like “nana,” “dorme-dorme,” and “ró-ró” that mimic the rhythm of a rocking cradle. Many, like this one, gently explain why a parent is briefly out of sight: mother finishing the washing, father digging in the fields — small, honest reassurances that everyone is nearby and coming back soon.
Traditional Portuguese lullaby. The English lines here are a singable adaptation for this arrangement, offered as a respectful tribute — not a literal translation.
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