Almir Guineto was director of the samba school Salgueiro, a founder of the Fundo de Quintal samba group, and integrated the Originais do Samba group for 10 years before leaving for a solo career. Born on the Salgueiro hills in Rio de Janeiro in a family of musicians, he is credited as the man who introduced the banjo to samba, and is recognized as one of the main fathers of pagode.
Almir first knew success when his partido "Mordomia" won the first prize in the 1981 MPB-Shell festival. A frequenter of the Cacique de Ramos roda de samba, he took part in the first record of Fundo de Quintal, but by the time of their second album he had already left the group to guide his talent through solo career. At the start of his career, his famous song "Saco Cheio" (Everything that is made on earth/God's name is thrown in the midst/God must be pissed off) came to raise protests from Rio de Janeiro's archbishop, D. Eugênio Sales.
Besides being very famous as a performer, Almir enjoys a lot of recognition as a songwriter, with many songs recorded by artists such as Beth Carvalho, who considers him one of her favourite song sources, Zeca Pagodinho, Dorina and others. Almir is regarded as an artist of the povão, for the big masses know his hits very well. His songs are the most sang-along in parties and reunions where samba is played on account of their popularity.
Almir Guineto has over 12 records edited in Brazil, the first one being O Suburbano, from 1981. His records have a particular samba sound that became trademarked as Almir's, frequently with strong use of the banjo, and with Mauro Diniz often being responsible for the cavaquinho.
His potent, raucous voice is another trademark, which some call a "force of nature". Among his greatest hits are the songs "Conselho", "Insensato Destino", "Rendição", "Pedi ao Céu" and "É, Pois É", the last two even more famous in the voice of Beth Carvalho. One of his most important records is the self-titled Almir Guineto from 1986, which opens with the afro-inspired "Caxambú". "Mãos" is one of his greatest hits in Zeca's voice.
Almir Guineto is respected in Brazil, as one of the most important sambistas.
Discography
Todos os Pagodes (2001)
Almir Guineto (1999)
Pés (1997)
Acima de Deus, só Deus (1995)
Pele de Chocolate (1993)
De Bem com a Vida (1991)
Jeito de Amar (1989)
Olhos da Vida (1988)
Perfume de Champagne (1987)
Almir Guineto (1986)
Sorriso Novo (1985)
A Chave do Perdão (1982)
O Suburbano (1981)
Pedi Ao Céu
Almir Guineto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
Pedi ao céu
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
E além do mais, necessito de paz
Coisa que você traz
Sempre mais, sei porque
Paixão igual nunca senti
Saudade igual nunca sofri
E de repente percebi
Que a vida é nada sem você
Em prosa e verso eu já chorei
E a solidão eu já paguei
Ao universo eu implorei: quero você
Pedi ao céu
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
Pedi ao céu
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
E além do mais, necessito de paz
Coisa que você traz
Sempre mais, sei porque
Paixão igual nunca senti
Saudade igual nunca sofri
E de repente percebi
Que a vida é nada sem você
Em prosa e verso eu já chorei
E a solidão eu já paguei
Ao universo eu implorei: quero você
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
Pedi ao céu
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
Uma chaga de amor no peito
Devagar ela vai me matar
Devagar ela vai me matar
Pedi ao céu
Pedi ao céu
The lyrics of Almir Guineto's "Pedi ao Céu" speak of a deep desire for love and an urgent need for relief from the pain that comes with it. The singer laments the wound of love that is slowly killing them, and seeks a cure from the heavens. The lyrics express a plea to the universe for a remedy to fix the wound of love that has taken root in their heart.
The singer recognizes that in addition to a cure for their pain, they also need peace, something that their lover brings them. They confess to never having experienced a passion or longing like this before and express a deep connection to their beloved. The lyrics further express the feeling that life is meaningless without their lover.
The repeated refrain of "Pedi ao céu" ("I asked the heavens") emphasizes the plea of the singer, and the urgency of their desire for healing and relief.
Line by Line Meaning
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
I asked the heavens for a cure that could heal
Uma chaga de amor no peito
A sore of love in my heart
Devagar ela vai me matar
Slowly she will kill me
E além do mais, necessito de paz
And furthermore, I need peace
Coisa que você traz
A thing that you bring
Sempre mais, sei porque
Always more, I know why
Paixão igual nunca senti
I've never felt a passion as strong
Saudade igual nunca sofri
I've never suffered such longing
E de repente percebi
And suddenly I realized
Que a vida é nada sem você
That life is nothing without you
Em prosa e verso eu já chorei
In prose and verse I have cried
E a solidão eu já paguei
And loneliness I have already paid for
Ao universo eu implorei: quero você
To the universe I pleaded: I want you
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
I asked the heavens for a cure that could heal
Uma chaga de amor no peito
A sore of love in my heart
Devagar ela vai me matar
Slowly she will kill me
Pedi ao céu
I asked the heavens
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
I asked the heavens for a cure that could heal
Uma chaga de amor no peito
A sore of love in my heart
Devagar ela vai me matar
Slowly she will kill me
E além do mais, necessito de paz
And furthermore, I need peace
Coisa que você traz
A thing that you bring
Sempre mais, sei porque
Always more, I know why
Paixão igual nunca senti
I've never felt a passion as strong
Saudade igual nunca sofri
I've never suffered such longing
E de repente percebi
And suddenly I realized
Que a vida é nada sem você
That life is nothing without you
Em prosa e verso eu já chorei
In prose and verse I have cried
E a solidão eu já paguei
And loneliness I have already paid for
Ao universo eu implorei: quero você
To the universe I pleaded: I want you
Pedi ao céu, um remédio que possa curar
I asked the heavens for a cure that could heal
Uma chaga de amor no peito
A sore of love in my heart
Devagar ela vai me matar
Slowly she will kill me
Pedi ao céu
I asked the heavens
Devagar ela vai me matar
Slowly she will kill me
Writer(s): Almir De Souza Serra, Luverci Ernesto Waetge
Contributed by Maya W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.