Choro
A. C. Jobim Lyrics

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Mesmo que os cantores sejam falsos como eu
Serão bonitas, não importa
São bonitas as canções
Mesmo miseráveis os poetas
Os seus versos serão bons
Mesmo porque as notas eram surdas
Quando um deus sonso e ladrão
Fez das tripas a primeira lira

Que animou todos os sons
E daí nasceram as baladas
E os arroubos de bandidos como eu
Cantando assim:
Você nasceu para mim
Você nasceu para mim

Mesmo que você feche os ouvidos
E as janelas do vestido
Minha musa vai cair em tentação
Mesmo porque estou falando grego
Com sua imaginação
Mesmo que você fuja de mim
Por labirintos e alçapões
Saiba que os poetas como os cegos
Podem ver na escuridão
E eis que, menos sábios do que antes
Os seus lábios ofegantes
Hão de se entregar assim
Me leve até o fim
Me leve até o fim

Mesmo que os romances sejam falsos como o nosso
São bonitas, não importa
São bonitas as canções

Mesmo sendo errados os amantes
Seus amores serão bons

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of A.C. Jobim's song Choro speak of the beauty of music and poetry, even when the singers and poets themselves may be flawed or deceitful. The first stanza acknowledges that even if the singers are false, the songs they sing will still be beautiful. The poet then reflects on the origins of music, suggesting that even the gods who created it were cunning thieves who used "the first lyre" made of guts to inspire all sounds. From this, the "ballads" and the "outbursts of bandits like me" were born, implying that music can be both poetic and deviant.

In the second stanza, the poet speaks to his muse, who may be resistant to his advances. He claims that even if she turns a deaf ear or closes herself off to him, he still has the power to seduce her through his words. He uses the metaphor of speaking Greek to imply that she may not understand his intentions, and that he is using his imagination to sway her. He reassures her that poets, like the blind, can see in the darkness and that he will pursue her through any obstacle. The final line, "Me leve até o fim" ("Take me to the end"), suggests a desire for consummation of their union.

The final stanza returns to the theme of flawed love affairs, noting that even if the romance between the lovers is false, the songs that describe them will still be beautiful. The poet acknowledges that the lovers may be wrong for each other, but that their love will still be "good." This could be interpreted as a comment on the power of music and poetry to create beauty and transcendence, despite the flawed nature of human relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Mesmo que os cantores sejam falsos como eu
Even if the singers are fake like myself

Serão bonitas, não importa
the songs will still be beautiful, no matter what

São bonitas as canções
The songs are beautiful

Mesmo miseráveis os poetas
Even if the poets are destitute

Os seus versos serão bons
their verses will still be good

Mesmo porque as notas eram surdas
even if the notes were deaf

Quando um deus sonso e ladrão
when a cunning and thievish god

Fez das tripas a primeira lira
made the first lyre out of guts

Que animou todos os sons
that brought all the sounds to life

E daí nasceram as baladas
and thus were born the ballads

E os arroubos de bandidos como eu
and the outbursts of outlaws like myself