Desfolhada Portuguesa (translation: Portuguese Husking), occasionally known as Desfolhada, was the Portuguese entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 in Madrid performed by Simone de Oliveira in her second attempt in the contest.
The song deals with the love of Portugal - the first occasion on which this was the theme of the Portuguese entry, but far from the last. The song compares the love from the conception of a child to patriotic love.
It was performed 15th on the night, following France and preceding Finland. At the close of the voting, it finished in 15th place with 4 points. Despite this, Oliveira returned to Lisbon with a rapturous reception, and it considered one of the most beloved Portuguese entries.
Lyrics[]
Corpo de linho, lábios de mosto
Meu corpo lindo, meu fogo posto
Eira de milho, luar de agosto
Quem faz um filho fá-lo por gosto
É milho-rei, milho vermelho
Cravo de carne, bago de amor
Filho de um rei que sendo velho
Volta a nascer quando há calor
Minha palavra dita à luz do sol nascente
Meu madrigal de madrugada
Amor, amor, amor, amor, amor presente
Em cada espiga desfolhada
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lala lala lalalala…
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lalalala lala lala…
Minha raiz de pinho verde
Meu céu azul tocando a serra
Ó, minha mágoa e minha sede
Ao mar, ao sul da minha terra
É trigo loiro, é além Tejo
O meu país neste momento
O sol, o queima, o vento, o beija
Seara louca em movimento
Minha palavra dita à luz do sol nascente
Meu madrigal de madrugada
Amor, amor, amor, amor, amor presente
Em cada espiga desfolhada
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lala lalala lalalala…
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lalalala lala lala…
Olhos de amêndoa, cisterna escura
Onde se alpendra a desventura
Moira escondida, moira encantada
Lenda perdida, lenda encontrada
Ó, minha terra, minha aventura
Casca de noz desamparada
Ó, minha terra, minha lonjura
Por mim perdida, por mim achada
Lalai lala lalai lala lalala lai la…
Lala lalai la lalai lala…
Lalai lala lalai lala lalala lai la…
Lalalalai… lai lai lai lai…
Body of linen, lips of must
My lovely body, my burning fire
Threshing-floor, August moonlight
Who conceives a child, does it for pleasure
It’s red maize, red coloured maize
Flesh wart, grain of love
Son of a king that, being old
Grows back when times are warm
My word spoken at the rising sun’s light
My dawning madrigal
Love, love, love, love, present love
In every husked corncob
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lala lala lalalala…
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lalalala lala lala…
My green pine root
My blue sky touching the ridge
Oh, my sorrow and my thirstiness
To the sea, south of my homeland
It’s blond maize, it’s beyond the Tagus
My country at this moment
The sun burns it, the wind kisses it
Ecstatic corn-field in motion
My word spoken at the rising sun’s light
My dawning madrigal
Love, love, love, love, present love
In every husked corncob
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lala lalala lalalala…
Lalalala lalalala lala lalala…
Lalalala lala lala…
Almond eyes, obscure well
Where my misfortune is protected
Hidden moor, enchanted moor
Forfeited legend, found legend
Oh, my homeland, my adventure
Helpless nutshell
Oh, my homeland, my remoteness
By myself lost, by myself found
Lalai lala lalai lala lalala lai la…
Lala lalai la lalai lala…
Lalai lala lalai lala lalala lai la…
Lalalalai… lai lai lai lai…
Trivia[]
- When the song title was projected, it was renamed to Deshojada, as the original name was confused in Spanish for a swear word.
- The lyric "Quem faz um filho fá-lo por gosto" (translation: Who conceives a child, does it for pleasure), was notoriously subversive for the conservative Portuguese regime; whenever Simone sang that line, some audience members would leave the room.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1969 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Ivan & 4M •  Romuald •  Salomé •  Jean Jacques •  Muriel Day •  Iva Zanicchi •  Lulu •  Lenny Kuhr •  Tommy Körberg •  Louis Neefs •  Paola del Medico •  Kirsti Sparboe •  Siw Malmkvist •  Frida Boccara •  Simone de Oliveira •  Jarkko & Laura
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Pozdrav svijetu • Catherine • Vivo cantando • Maman, Maman • The Wages of Love • Due grosse lacrime bianche • Boom Bang-a-Bang • De troubadour • Judy, min vän • Jennifer Jennings • Bonjour, Bonjour • Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli • Primaballerina • Un jour, un enfant • Desfolhada portuguesa • Kuin silloin ennen
| |||
Videos[]
Simone de Oliveira - Desfolhada Portuguesa
Eurovision Portugal 1969- Simone de Oliveira - Desfolhada Portuguesa