Samba Do Avião
Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics

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Minha alma canta
Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
Estou morrendo de saudade
Rio teu mar, praias sem fim
Rio você foi feito pra mim

Cristo Redentor
Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara

Este samba é só porque
Rio eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar

Rio de sol, de céu, de mar
Dentro de mais uns minutos
Estaremos no Galeão

Este samba é só porque
Rio eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar

Aperte o cinto, vamos chegar

Água brilhando, olha a pista chegando
E vamos nós aterrar

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song, "Eparrê, Aroeira beira de mar, Salve Deus e Tiago e Humaitá, Eta, costão de pedra dos home brabo do mar, Eh, Xangô, vê se me ajuda a chegar," are in Portuguese and refer to various places in and around Rio de Janeiro. Aroeira is a type of tree found along the beaches, and Salve Deus is a reference to the Brazilian religion of Umbanda, which incorporates elements of Catholicism and African religions. Tiago and Humaitá are neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, and the "costão de pedra" refers to the rocky coastline of the city. Xangô is an orisha, or deity, in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, and the singer is asking for his help to reach his destination.

The rest of the song is in English and expresses the singer's love for Rio de Janeiro, specifically its beaches, the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the Guanabara Bay, and the city itself. The line "Minha alma canta" means "my soul sings," and the lyrics describe the beauty of the city's natural surroundings and the joy of arriving in Rio, expressed through the image of a woman dancing the samba. The repeated phrase "Rio, eu gosto de você" means "Rio, I love you." The closing lines, "Aperte o cinto, vamos chegar, Água brilhando, olha a pista chegando, E vamos nós aterrar," mean "fasten your seatbelt, we're arriving, water shimmering, look at the runway coming, and we're landing."

Line by Line Meaning

Eparrê,
Invocation to the gods or Orishas of African mythology.

Aroeira beira de mar
Aroeira is a type of tree found near the sea.

Salve Deus e Tiago e Humaitá
Salutations to the deities of Candomblé, as well as reference to two neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro.

Eta, costão de pedra dos home brabo do mar
Expression of admiration for the rocky coastline of Rio de Janeiro and the brave men who navigate its waters.

Eh, Xangô, vê se me ajuda a chegar
Asking for help from the Orisha Xangô to arrive safely in Rio.

Minha alma canta
My soul sings.

Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
I see Rio de Janeiro.

Estou morrendo de saudade
I am dying of nostalgia.

Rio, teu mar, praias sem fim
Rio, your sea, endless beaches.

Rio, você foi feito pra mim
Rio, you were made for me.

Cristo Redentor
The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio.

Braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
Arms open over Guanabara Bay.

Este samba é só porque
This samba is just because.

Rio, eu gosto de você
Rio, I like you.

A morena vai sambar
The dark-skinned woman is going to samba.

Seu corpo todo balançar
Her whole body swaying.