Cabo Sim Cabo Não

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a perilous sea voyage, starting with the ominous "Cabo Não" (Cape No). This initial point marks "the limit of creation," beyond which lies "the sea of darkness." The narrator's mission is to navigate this treacherous "whirlwind of mists and whirlpools," a journey so daunting they've already "entrusted themselves to the heavens." The repeated refrain, "Para lá do Cabo Não / Vou e voltarei ou não" (Beyond Cape No / I will go and return or not), underscores the immense uncertainty and the high stakes of this undertaking. The voyage progresses, with the narrator passing "many leagues" south, the desert as a companion, meticulously charting winds and waters. The journey intensifies with the appearance of "Bojador," described as "a hundred times worse" than Cabo Não, a "sea of boiling sulfur" that "swallowed boats and men." This passage suggests a confrontation with an even greater, more terrifying obstacle, a place "kept for me" to "gather all courage" and quell internal "mutiny" among the crew. The refrain shifts to "Para lá do Bojador," amplifying the sense of facing an almost supernatural dread. The narrative continues past the "dreadful point," where the sea becomes merely "water and salt," and the coast barren sand with "not a soul in sight." The journey then moves "below," heading towards the "Southern Star" and beyond "Cabo Branco" (White Cape). The narrator's weariness is palpable, expressed in the phrase "tired of cape no cape yes." This weariness culminates in the discovery of "Cabo Verde" (Green Cape), a stark contrast to the preceding desolation. It's a land that "puts an end to the desert," with "rivers of fresh water" and "green reaching to the heavens," inhabited by people "without any fear of God."