When she was twelve, her father gave her a guitar since he was worried about her being shy. Popular musician and composer Patricio Teixeira and classical guitarist Solon Ayala were her teachers. While still a teenager, she met a number of singers and composers who took part of Bossa Nova's musical revolution, in late 50s and early 60s, including Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Bôscoli, João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim.
By 1963, after singing as an amateur for a few years, she became a professional and toured with Sergio Mendes. In the mid-1960s, the institution of military dictatorship in Brazil led her to sing increasingly political lyrics. Her show "Opinião" reflected her political beliefs and she had largely switched to political music by this point. In 1964, she even spoke against bossa nova as a movement, calling it "alienating". In 1968, being part of the Tropicália movement, she appeared on the album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses, performing "Lindonéia."
She later left Brazil for Paris and in the 1970s abandoned music to focus on her family. She returned to music later and when she discovered, in 1979, that she had an inoperable brain tumor she increased her productivity as much as possible. She died in 1989, leaving a great legacy behind her succesful years of career.
Marcha Da Quarta-Feira De Cinzas
Nara Leão Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ninguém houve cantar canções
Ninguém passa mais, brincando Feliz
E nos corações saudades e cinzas foi o que restou
Pels ruas o que se vê
É uma gente que nem se vê
Que nem sorri, se beija e abraça
E sai caminhando,
Dançando e cantando cantigas de amor No entanto é
Preciso cantar
Mais que nunca e preciso cantar pra alegrar a cidade
A tristeza que a gente tem
Qualquer dia vai se acabar
Todos vai se acabar
Todos vão sorrir, voltou a esperança
E o povo contente da vida feliz a cantar
Por que são tantas coisas azuis
Há tão grades promessas de luz
Tanto amor par dar e que a gente nem sabe
Quem me dera viver pra ver
E Brincar outros Canavais com a beleza dos velhos
Carnavais
Que machas tão lindas
O povo cantando seu canto de paz (3 vezes)
Tanto amor para dar e alegrar a Cidade
The lyrics to Nara Leão's song "Marcha Da Quarta-Feira De Cinzas" paint a vivid picture of post-carnival blues. The first verse sets the scene of a silent and empty city, with no more songs or joyful people. The streets are filled with strangers who don't interact, walking and dancing to love songs, but without any real connection. The chorus calls for the need to sing, now more than ever, to bring happiness back to the city. Despite the sadness that currently prevails, the hope for a better future remains, where everyone will smile and sing together once again.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that there is so much love and promise in the world that people don't even know about. The desire to see and experience these things is expressed. The final chorus, repeated three times, highlights the fact that people have so much love to give and that they should use it to make the city joyful once again. The song ultimately serves as a message of hope and encouragement, reminding listeners that although the carnival may have ended, there is still so much love and happiness to share.
Line by Line Meaning
Acabou nosso carnaval
Our carnival is over
Ninguém houve cantar canções
No one hears songs being sung
Ninguém passa mais, brincando Feliz
No one passes by anymore, playing happily
E nos corações saudades e cinzas foi o que restou
What remains in our hearts is longing and ash
Pels ruas o que se vê
What we see on the streets
É uma gente que nem se vê
Is a people who don't even see each other
Que nem sorri, se beija e abraça
Who don't smile, kiss or hug
E sai caminhando, Dançando e cantando cantigas de amor
And they go walking, dancing and singing love songs
No entanto é Preciso cantar
However, it is necessary to sing
Mais que nunca e preciso cantar pra alegrar a cidade
More than ever, it is necessary to sing to cheer up the city
A tristeza que a gente tem
The sadness that we have
Qualquer dia vai se acabar
One day it will come to an end
Todos vai se acabar
It will all come to an end
Todos vão sorrir, voltou a esperança
Everyone will smile, hope has returned
E o povo contente da vida feliz a cantar
And the people happily singing, content with life
Por que são tantas coisas azuis
Why are there so many blue things
Há tão grades promessas de luz
There are such great promises of light
Tanto amor par dar e que a gente nem sabe
So much love to give and we don't even know it
Quem me dera viver pra ver
I wish I could live to see
E Brincar outros Canavais com a beleza dos velhos Carnavais
And play other Carnivals with the beauty of the old Carnivals
Que machas tão lindas
That had such beautiful parades
O povo cantando seu canto de paz (3 vezes)
The people singing their song of peace (3 times)
Tanto amor para dar e alegrar a Cidade
So much love to give and bring happiness to the City
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.