Retrato em Branco e Preto
Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
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Sei que não vai dar em nada
Seus segredos sei de cor
Já conheço as pedras do caminho
E sei também que ali sozinho
Vou ficar tanto pior
O que é que eu posso contra o encanto
Desse amor que eu nego tanto
E que no entanto
Volta sempre a enfeitiçar
Com seus mesmos tristes velhos fatos
Que num álbum de retratos
Eu teimo em colecionar
Lá vou eu de novo como um tolo
Procurar o desconsolo
Que cansei de conhecer
Novos dias tristes, noites claras
Versos, cartas, minha cara
Ainda volto a lhe escrever
Pra lhe dizer que isso é pecado
Eu trago o peito tão marcado
De lembranças do passado
E você sabe a razão
Vou colecionar mais um soneto
Outro retrato em branco e preto
A maltratar meu coração
Vou colecionar mais um soneto
Outro retrato em branco e preto
A maltratar meu coração
"Retrato em Branco e Preto" is a melancholic love song by Antônio Carlos Jobim, also known as Tom Jobim. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and familiarity towards a love that is both enchanting and painful. The singer, who is deeply aware of the path they are on, acknowledges that it will lead to nothing. They know all the secrets and obstacles along the way, understanding that they will end up alone and even worse off. Despite their efforts to deny and avoid the charms of this love, they find themselves spellbound and collecting memories in an album of portraits.
The singer finds themselves repeating the cycle of seeking solace in despair that they have grown weary of. They anticipate more sad days and clear nights, as they write verses and letters to their beloved. They recognize the sinful nature of their actions, carrying a heavy heart marked by memories of the past, and the recipient of these letters knows the reason behind it all. Yet, they continue to collect more sonnets and portrayals in black and white, knowing that it will only continue to torment their heart.
Overall, the lyrics of "Retrato em Branco e Preto" depict a bittersweet love story where the singer is caught in a cycle of longing, denial, and nostalgia. Despite being aware of the eventual pain and futility, they find themselves unable to break free from the enchantment of the love they keep denying.
Line by Line Meaning
Já conheço os passos dessa estrada
I am already familiar with the steps of this path
Sei que não vai dar em nada
I know it will lead to nothing
Seus segredos sei de cor
I already know your secrets by heart
Já conheço as pedras do caminho
I already know the obstacles along the way
E sei também que ali sozinho
And I also know that there, alone
Eu vou ficar tanto pior
I will feel even worse
E o que é que eu posso contra o encanto
And what can I do against the spell
Desse amor que eu nego tanto
Of this love that I deny so much
Evito tanto e que, no entanto
I avoid so much and yet
Volta sempre a enfeitiçar
It always returns to enchant me
Com seus mesmos tristes, velhos fatos
With its same sad, old facts
Que num álbum de retratos
That in a photo album
Eu teimo em colecionar
I persist in collecting
Lá vou eu de novo como um tolo
There I go again like a fool
Procurar o desconsolo
To seek the sorrow
Que cansei de conhecer
That I'm tired of knowing
Novos dias tristes, noites claras
New sad days, clear nights
Versos, cartas, minha cara
Verses, letters, my dear
Contra mim volta a lhe escrever
I find myself writing to you again
Pra lhe dizer que isso é pecado
To tell you that this is a sin
Eu trago o peito tão marcado
I carry such a marked heart
De lembranças do passado e você sabe a razão
With memories of the past and you know the reason
Vou colecionar mais um soneto
I will collect another sonnet
Outro retrato em branco e preto
Another portrait in black and white
c maltratar meu coração
To mistreat my heart
Lyrics © CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque De Hollanda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Norris
on Samba Do Soho
It's "Diadem" which is a fancy headband. Also, I believe this song was written by Jobim's son, Paolo.