Born in Rio de Janeiro to a family deeply rooted in the samba tradition, Paulinho met and befriended much of Rio's samba elite as a child. His father was a guitar player and musicians like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim would often come to his house for rehearsals, which Paulinho watched for hours on end. After the rehearsals, Paulinho would pick up his father's guitar and strum the few chords he knew. Later, as a teenager, he was frequently seen at jams at Jacob do Bandolim's house, quietly and attentively observing the older, more experienced musicians. He began writing his own songs as a teenager, but never considered a career as a professional musician until he met poet Hermínio Bello de Carvalho in 1964. By then, Paulinho was working as a teller at a bank in Rio de Janeiro, and recognised Hermínio from the jam sessions at Jacob do Bandolim's house. The two became close friends and soon began writing music together. The first song they wrote together was Duvide-o-dó, recorded by singer Isaurinha Garcia. He then began performing his own songs at a restaurant in Rio, owned by samba legend Cartola and his wife.
He got his famous nickname in 1965, when he was a member of the samba group A Voz do Morro (the voice of the hills), alongside Zé Keti and Oscar Bigode. After their first recording session, a publicist from the record label reportedly told him "'Paulo César' is not a samba name!". Zé Keti and journalist Sérgio Cabral eventually came up with the nickname "Paulinho da Viola" (something to the lines of "Guitar Paul").
By the 1970s, Paulinho was at the most prolific stage of his career, releasing an average of one album per year. He was already a household name in samba, choro and MPB circles and broadened his audience by touring all over Brazil and also playing at festivals in Europe and the USA. His productivity and popularity had waned by the mid-80s, when he decided to focus more on his songwriting. In 1996 he regained notoriety after releasing the much-acclaimed album Bebadosamba, in which he once again joined forces with Hermínio Bello de Carvalho and Elton Medeiros, his early songwriting partners. He still lives in Rio de Janeiro and performs around Brazil.
O Meu Pecado
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
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Amar tantas mulheres
O tempo já passou
Eu tenho saudade
Meu pecado foi passar noites em serestas
E bebendo por aí
Pela cidade
Nem com dinheiro as mulheres
Já não me desejam mais
Ah, se eu pudesse
Voltaria ao meu tempo de rapaz
O meu pecado foi querer na minha mocidade
Amar tantas mulheres
O tempo já passou
Eu tenho saudade
Meu pecado foi passar noites em serestas
E bebendo por aí
Pela cidade
The lyrics of Paulinho Da Viola's song "O Meu Pecado" tell the story of a man who looks back at his youth and reflects on the mistakes he made. In the first verse, he admits that his sin was to want to love many women during his youth. He acknowledges that time has passed and he now misses those days. In the second verse, he admits that his other sin was spending nights at serenades and drinking around the city. He realizes that even with money, women no longer desire him. The man longs to return to his youthful days and relive his past.
The song depicts the nostalgia and longing for the past that many people experience as they grow older. It also touches on the themes of youth, love, and regret. The lyrics are simple but convey a complex message, reminding listeners to appreciate their present and not to waste their time chasing unattainable pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
Meu pecado foi querer na minha mocidade
My sin was to want so many women in my youth
Amar tantas mulheres
To love so many women
O tempo já passou
Time has passed
Eu tenho saudade
I miss it
Meu pecado foi passar noites em serestas
My sin was to spend nights at serestas
E bebendo por aí
And drinking around
Pela cidade
Through the city
Nem com dinheiro as mulheres
Not even with money, women
Já não me desejam mais
Don't desire me anymore
Ah, se eu pudesse
Ah, if I could
Voltaria ao meu tempo de rapaz
I'd go back to my youth
O meu pecado foi querer na minha mocidade
My sin was to want so many women in my youth
Amar tantas mulheres
To love so many women
O tempo já passou
Time has passed
Eu tenho saudade
I miss it
Meu pecado foi passar noites em serestas
My sin was to spend nights at serestas
E bebendo por aí
And drinking around
Pela cidade
Through the city
Contributed by Dominic C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.