Portuguese music and a story - O homem do Saldanha

Video - watch João Manuel Serra

João Manuel Serra, was known as o Senhor do Adeus - the Lord of Goodbye. He died at age 80 last year's November, in Lisbon the city he loved. Every day he spent hours in the sun or rain watching the passing cars and waving to drivers near an area called the Saldanha. This gentleman was always very well-dressed and had a great passion for movies. He used to blog about the movies he watched on the weekend. He was an educated man coming from a wealthy family. He started waving at people after his mother's death. He was then alone in the world and this helped him to fight loneliness. It started as a joke but soon realized that this simple gesture made people happier and they smiled when they waved back...He was an icon of the city.

The singer Marco Rodrigues has a fado called The Saldanha Man​​ on his latest album, Tantas Lisboas. It's a duet with Carlos do Carmo, a well-known fado singer, and with lyrics by Boss AC, a rapper, and music by Tiago Machado.

The night he died people came to the street on the sidewalk he used to hang and waved to the cars passing on the street. I translated the lyrics of O homem do Saldanha for you! I hope you enjoy the music and the story of this peculiar man.


The man from Saldanha

The smile on his face at night
In the square of the Saldanha
By the roadside standing
He's no strange to anyone
Everybody knows him
He nods and thanks
And the city continues on its way

The smile on his face at night
In the square of the Saldanha
Erasing loneliness
In the accompanying moonlight
You see him coming after dark
Cars wait for him to cross the street
With the hand in the air as if to say
Hello, Lisbon

Welcome, my friend, to our street
It has been some time since I last saw you around
It is never too much, there is always room
Come here embrace me

I'm glad to see you in a good mood
Saying hello to passers-by
With pleasure mirrored on your face

Welcome to our street, my friend

It has been some time since I last saw you around
It is never too much, there is always room
Come on give me a hug
Because at night Lisbon smiles

It's not goodbye, he says hello
To whom passes by
Brown coat, John
he gives an air of his grace
Makes the city more cheerful

Crazy is the one who does not dream
Who does not realize this doesn’t know
how it feels to be alone.

It's not goodbye, he says hello
To whom passes by
With his look,  he embraces Lisbon
says goodbye to the square
It is getting late
he catch a taxi and goes away
Enough for today, tomorrow he’ll be back.