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As Colunas De Madrugada

from The Rhythm Of Tides by Grand Union Orchestra

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about

Two interlinking songs give contrasting views of the Angolan colonial war.

In Portuguese, Paulo De Carvalho describes the relentless and doomed departures of army convoys from the capital Luanda, set very simply to a modal melody.

In English, Richard Scott sings as a doctor called to attend the attempted suicide of a Portuguese conscript soldier. This story is based on a scene from António Lobo Antunes’ novel Os Cus de Judas. The atonal harmonies are based on the 'Indian' scale used in Rag Mumbai.

lyrics

As colunas partiam de madrugada
Para o norte partiam para a morte
Partiam de Luanda flor pisada
Levavam morte de Luanda para o norte

Dumb as an ox the country conscript turned
On his narrow bed as if to say
This is enough, Goodbye Sirs Ah! Goodbye
Then raised his gun and shot his face away
And six hours later I would wish him dead

De Luanda partiam flor pisada
Colunas que levavam
Luanda para o norte para o morte
De Luanda partiam madrugada

Summoned by phone back at the base
I drive up the dust road north
I heave a sigh
Another bad night in a losers’ war
Morphine and swabs, the dressings pail and gauze
Which four hours later would have proved no worth

De Luanda madrugada para o norte
As colunas partiam
Levavam de Luanda a flor pisada
Para a morte do norte para a morte

Iron the cot to which they had him tied
As he writhed it groaned
Seemed to describe
The agony he had no voice to own
Nor could I still by any means his limbs
Which flailed and flailed the two hours till he died

Partiam de Luanda madrugada
Colunas para o norte
Levavam morte de Luanda
Para o norte da morte flor pisada

Candles at night improve the wine and food
In a Lisbon house illuminate
An empire’s trophies, as the admiral lifts
His nightly anise in a crystal glass
Which sixty seconds later will explode

De Luanda partiam as colunas
Para o norte partiam flor pisada
De Luanda levavam para o norte
A morte de madrugada

Horror of war beyond what words can say
Or a picture graph
For this we bow
In lying silence at the cenotaph
But now I thank God for your death and now
You’re screaming out the truth in heaven at last

Partiam as colunas de Luanda
Levavam para a morte
A madrugada: flor pisada
Ao norte

credits

from The Rhythm Of Tides, released July 31, 1997
Paulo De Carvalho - voice
Richard Scott - voice
Music by Tony Haynes
Lyrics by Manuel Alegre & David Bradford

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Grand Union Orchestra London, UK

Grand Union Orchestra is a multicultural world jazz ensemble based in London. It has been performing, touring and recording large-scale shows for over 30 years and is well known for its educational work. Grand Union specialises in large-scale musical performances that reflect the backgrounds of its performers and often invites participation from amateur musicians and community groups. ... more

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