Check also Anna Caram
The Telephone Song
Ana Caram Lyrics
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Ocupado pela décima vez
Tuen
Telefone e não consigo falar
Tuen Tuen
To ouvindo há muito mais de um mês
Tuen
Já começa quando eu penso em discar
Que ele deu meu telefone pra mim
Tuen Tuen
E dizer que a vida inteira esperei
Tuen
Que dei duro e me matei pra encontrar
Tuen Tuen
Toda lista que eu quase decorei
Tuen
Dia e noite não parei pra discar
E só vendo com que jeito
Pedia pra eu ligar
Tuen Tuen
Não entendo mais nada
Pra que que eu fui topar
Tuen Tuen
Não me diga que agora atendeu
Será que eu
Eu consegui
Agora encontrar
O moço atendeu, "alô?"
Tuen Tuen
Ocupado pela décima vez
Tuen
Telefone e não consigo falar
Tuen Tuen
To ouvindo há muito mais de um mês
Tuen
Já começa quando eu penso em discar
Eu já estou desconfiando
Que ele deu meu telefone pra mim
Tuen Tuen
E dizer que a vida inteira esperei
Tuen
Que dei duro e me matei pra encontrar
Tuen Tuen
Toda lista que eu quase decorei
Tuen
Dia e noite não parei de discar
E só vendo com que jeito
Pedia pra eu ligar
Tuen Tuen
Não entendo mais nada
Pra que que eu fui topar
Tuen Tuen
Não me diga que agora atendeu
Será que eu
Eu consegui
Agora encontrar
O moço atendeu, "Hello?"
The lyrics of Ana Caram's song "The Telephone Song" describe the frustration and desperation of a person trying to reach someone they have been trying to contact for a long time. The constant sound of the busy tone, represented by "Tuen," the sound of a busy tone in Brazil, adds to the feeling of anguish and anticipation. The singer of the song has been waiting their entire life to make this call, putting in a lot of effort to find and memorize the phone numbers of people who might have the information they need.
As the song progresses, the character becomes increasingly suspicious that the person they are trying to reach has given them a fake number or is purposely avoiding their calls. They begin to doubt their own persistence and question why they even began this quest in the first place. Finally, when the call does go through, the singer is overcome with relief and joy, but the song ends ambiguously, leaving the listener to decide whether it was a happy reunion or another disappointment.
The song speaks to the experience of trying to connect with someone in a world where communication technology still had its limitations and frustrations. The constant sound of the busy tone and the sense of being stuck in limbo waiting for someone to answer the phone captures a feeling that many can relate to, even in the age of smartphones and instant messaging.
Line by Line Meaning
Tuen Tuen
Sound effect of ringing telephone
Ocupado pela décima vez
Occupied for the tenth time; unable to get through despite multiple attempts
Telefone e não consigo falar
Telephone and I can't speak; unable to connect on the phone
To ouvindo há muito mais de um mês
I've been hearing it for more than a month; persistent unanswered ringing
Já começa quando eu penso em discar
It starts as soon as I think about dialing; the phone seems to be busy all the time
Eu já estou desconfiando
I am already suspecting; becoming suspicious that something is preventing me from connecting on the phone
Que ele deu meu telefone pra mim
That he gave me my own phone number; thinking that the phone number I am calling is actually my own
E dizer que a vida inteira esperei
And to say that I waited my whole life; expressing the frustration and anticipation of finally being able to connect on the phone
Que dei duro e me matei pra encontrar
That I worked hard and killed myself to find; emphasizing the effort put into trying to reach someone on the phone
Toda lista que eu quase decorei
Every list that I almost memorized; trying different phone numbers in an attempt to reach someone
Dia e noite não parei pra discar
Day and night I didn't stop dialing; trying to connect on the phone all the time
E só vendo com que jeito
And only seeing how I asked; describing the different ways the artist attempted to get through on the phone
Pedia pra eu ligar
Asking me to call; referring to the voice on the other end of the line asking the singer to call back
Não entendo mais nada
I don't understand anything anymore; feeling lost and confused by the inability to connect on the phone
Pra que que eu fui topar
Why did I agree to this; questioning why the singer agreed to try and connect on the phone
Não me diga que agora atendeu
Don't tell me that now he answered; expressing hope that the phone was finally answered
Será que eu / Eu consegui / Agora encontrar / O moço atendeu, 'alô?'
I wonder if / did I manage / to finally find him / the boy answered, 'hello?'; revealing that the artist was able to connect on the phone after all the attempts.
Writer(s): Norman Gimbel, Ronaldo Boscoli, Roberto Menescal
Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.