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Brazil: Songs about the Flag

Last modified: 2010-10-22 by ian macdonald
Keywords: song | anthem | hymn |
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[Brazil] 7:10   image by Joseph McMillan

See also:

Hymn to the Flag

Hino da Bandeira

The Brazilian "Hymn to the Flag (Hino da Bandeira)" is not the same as the national anthem. Here it is, along with my best cut at a line-by-line translation. The music is by Francisco Braga (1868-1945); words by Olavo Bilac (1865-1918).

Hino da Bandeira

Hymn to the Flag
Salve, lindo pendão da esperança
Salve, símbolo augusto da paz!
Tua nobre presença à lembrança
A grandeza da Patría nos traz.		 Hail, beautiful banner of hope,
Hail, august symbol of peace!
Thy noble presence reminds us of
The greatness of the fatherland.
(Estribilho)
Recebe o afeto que se encerra
Em nosso peito juvenil,
Querido símbolo da terra,
Da amada terra do Brasil!
 		(Refrain)
Receive the affection that is locked
Within our youthful breasts,
Cherished symbol of the land,
Beloved land of Brazil!
Em teu seio formoso retratas
Este céu de puríssimo azul,
A verdura sem par destas matas,
E o esplendor do Cruzeiro do Sul. 		On thy bosom lovely pictures
This heaven of purest blue,
The matchless verdure of those forests,
And splendor of the Southern Cross.
(Estribilho) (Refrain)
Contemplando o teu vulto sagrado,
Compreendemos o nosso dever;
E o Brasil por seus filhos amado;
Poderoso e feliz há de ser.		 Contemplating thy sacred will,
We learn to know our duty;
And Brazil, beloved by its children,
Powerful and happy will be.
(Estribilho) (Refrain)
Sobre a imensa nação brasileira,
Nos momentos de festa ou de dor,
Paira sempre, sagrada bandeira,
Pavilhão da justiça e do amor!		 Above the immense Brazilian nation,
In moments of joy or sorrow,
Float forever, sacred banner,
Ensign of justice and of love.
(Estribilho) (Refrain)

Joseph McMillan, translation corrected by António Martins, 25 March 2003

National Anthem

Hino Nacional

In addition to the "Hymn to the Flag," the Brazilian national anthem (Hino Nacional) also mentions the flag in the second stanza. The following lyrics and translation are from www.copcity.com:
Brasil, de amor eterno seja símbolo
O lábaro que ostentas estrelado,
E diga o verde-louro dessa flâmula
- paz no futuro e glória no passado -		 May the star-scattered banner flown by thee,
Brazil, become the symbol of eternal love,
And may the green-gold flag proclaim always
- Peace in the future and glory in the past -

Joseph McMillan, 6 May 2003

This is a good example of a song in which a particular flag is explicitly described or at least referred to. Even if the song is not fully dedicated to the flag, it might be considered of high vexillological value.
Ivan Sache, 7 May 2003