Lambada Lyrics in English by Kaoma

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Lambada by Kaoma from Portuguese to English.
These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!
Chorus 1
The one who once only made me cry went away crying
The one who once only made me cry went away crying
He'll be crying when he remembers a love
That one day he didn't know how to care for
He'll be crying when he remembers a love
That one day he didn't know how to care for
Verse 1
The memory will be with him wherever he goes
The memory will be forever wherever he goes
Dance, sun and sea, I'll keep in my gaze
Love makes you lose and find
I'll be dancing the lambada, remembering that this love
For one day, one instant, it was king
Chorus 2
The memory will be with him wherever he goes
The memory will be forever wherever he goes
He'll be crying when he remembers a love
That one day he didn't know how to care for
Outro
Song, laughter and pain, melody of love
A moment that stays in the air
Dancing the Lambada
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Did you like this lyrics translation?

Lambando — Dancing the Lambada

Lambando is a fascinating word because it's not a standard Portuguese verb. It was creatively invented for this song, derived from the noun Lambada, the name of the famous Brazilian dance.

The -ando suffix is the Portuguese equivalent of the English -ing ending for verbs. Therefore, Lambando essentially means "dancing the Lambada." The line "Lambando estarei" translates to "I will be dancing the Lambada," perfectly capturing the song's blend of nostalgic sorrow and the joyful energy of the dance.

You hear that accordion kick in and you want to dance immediately, but listen to what Kaoma is actually saying: it is pure revenge disguised as a party. The opening line hits with zero mercy: "Chorando se foi quem um dia só me fez chorar" ("He left crying, the one who once only made me cry"). The singer turns the tables completely. While her ex wanders off in tears, haunted wherever he goes because he never learned how to look after love ("não soube cuidar"), she packs her memories with better things: "Dança, sol e mar" ("Dance, sun and sea").

Notice the playful verb she invents in the chorus: "Lambando estarei" ("I will be dancing the lambada"). Instead of brooding over the past, she transforms the dance floor into her healing space. Love came, ruled like a king for a single second ("Por um dia um instante foi rei"), and fell apart. But between the music, laughter, and pain ("Canção riso e dor"), she chooses to shake it off while her ex is left sobbing. It is the ultimate feel-good payback track.

Did you know?
In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn Portuguese with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.
Yes, including Lambada by Kaoma!
No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.
LEARN PORTUGUESE WITH LAMBADA BY KAOMA
Learn Portuguese with music with 0 lyric translations from various artists including Kaoma
Check out our mobile app
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
Rated 4.9 · Join 250,000+ learners
Rated 4.9 stars
Learn Portuguese with lessons based on this song!
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
Rated 4.9 · Join 250,000+ learners
Apple and App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
MORE KAOMA