Veloso is the fifth of the seven children born to José Telles Veloso ("Seu Zezinho") and Claudionor Vianna Telles Veloso ("Dona Canô"). His younger sister Maria Bethânia, another popular and renowned artist in Brazil, preceded him to fame as a singer in the mid-1960s. He began his career around 1965 singing bossa nova and he has cited his greatest musical influences from his early period as João Gilberto and Dorival Caymmi. (João Gilberto would say later about Caetano's contribution that it added an intellectual dimension to brazilian popular music.) But with such musical collaborators Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Chico Buarque, and Os Mutantes, and greatly influenced by the later work of The Beatles, developed tropicalismo, which fused Brazilian pop with rock and roll and avant garde art music resulting in a more international, psychedelic, and socially aware sound. Veloso's politically active stance, unapologetically leftist, earned him the enmity of Brazil's military dictatorship which ruled until 1985; his songs were frequently censored, and some were banned. Veloso was also alienated from the socialist left in Brazil becasue of his acceptance and integration of non-nationalist influences (like rock and roll) in his music. Veloso and Gilberto Gil spent several months in jail for "anti-government activity" in 1968 and eventually exiled themselves to London. Caetano Veloso's work upon his return in 1972 was often characterized by frequent appropriations not only of international styles, but of half-forgotten Brazilian folkloric styles and rhythms as well. In particular, his celebration of the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia can be seen as the precursor of such Afro-centric groups as Timbalada.
In the 1980s, Veloso's popularity outside Brazil grew, especially in Israel, Portugal, France and Africa. By 2004, he was one of the most respected and prolific international pop stars, with more than fifty recordings available, including songs in soundtracks of movies such as Pedro Almodovar's Hable con Ella (Talk to Her), and Frida. In 2002 Veloso published an account of his early years and the Tropicalia movement, Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil.
His first all-English CD was A Foreign Sound (2004), which covers Nirvana's "Come as You Are" and compositions from the Great American Songbook. Five of the six songs on his third eponymous album, released in 1971, were also in English.
Burn It Blue
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
But the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Woman so weary
Spread your broken wings
Fly free as the swallow sings
Come to the firework
See the dark lady smiles
She burns
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Burn this night
Black and blue
So cold in the morning
So cold without you
And the night sky blooms with fire
(Y la noche que se encendia)
And the burning bed floats higher
(Y la cama que lleva)
And she's free to fly
(A volar)
And all of the dark days
Painted in dark grey hues
They fade with the dream of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Dancing the night away
I burn
Midnight blue
Spread those wings
Fly free with the swallows
Fly
One with the wind
why él es flama que se lleva
Why es un pájaro a volar
Why es un pájaro a volar
En la noche que se encendió
(...)
Luces del cielo
And the night sky blooms with fire
(Y eres flama que se lleva)
And the burning bed floats higher
(Y eres un pajaro a volar)
And she´s free to fly
(Y eres un pajaro a volar)
Just a swallow in the sky
(Y eres la noche que se encendia)
...
Much brighter
(bla bla bla why la oscuridad)
Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
The song Burn It Blue by Caetano Veloso and Lila Downs is a melancholic piece that talks about a woman who is heartbroken and longing for someone who left her. The lyrics describe her pain as something so intense that she wishes to burn down the house, which symbolizes the memories that haunt her. However, as the night sky blooms with fire and the burning bed floats higher, the woman grows stronger, gaining freedom from the pain of her past love. The song also explores the notion of transformation through fire, the idea of letting go of the past and rising above it all.
The symbolism used in the song is powerful and evocative. The burning bed suggests the end of a relationship, and the night sky blooming with fire gives a sense of a cathartic release. The imagery of the woman spreading her broken wings and flying away free as the swallow sings adds to the sense of liberation and metamorphosis. The song’s chorus repeats the phrase “And she's free to fly,” emphasizing the theme of freedom and the possibility of starting anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn this house
Destroy this house
Burn it blue
Destroy it completely
Heart running on empty
Feeling drained without you
So lost without you
Feeling directionless without you
But the night sky blooms with fire
The sky is alight with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
The burning bed ascends higher
And she's free to fly
She can fly away freely
Woman so weary
A tired woman
Spread your broken wings
Take a chance and try to fly
Fly free as the swallow sings
Fly with the swallows as they sing
Come to the firework
Come to where the fireworks are
See the dark lady smiles
See the dark woman smile
She burns
She's burning
Burn this night
Destroy this night
Black and blue
Dark and bruised
So cold in the morning
Feels cold in the morning
So cold without you
Feels cold without you
And all of the dark days
All the bad times
Painted in dark grey hues
Are colored with dark hues
They fade with the dream of you
They disappear with thoughts of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Clothed in luxurious red velvet
Dancing the night away
Dancing all night
I burn
I feel aflame
Midnight blue
Dark blue
Spread those wings
Use those wings to fly away
Fly free with the swallows
Fly freely with the swallows
Fly
Fly
One with the wind
Merge with the wind
why él es flama que se lleva
Because he is a flame that takes away
Why es un pájaro a volar
Because he is a bird that flies
En la noche que se encendió
In the night that lit up
Luces del cielo
Lights from the sky
...
Unspecified
And she´s free to fly
She can fly away freely
Just a swallow in the sky
Simply a swallow in the sky
Much brighter
Much more brilliant
(bla bla bla why la oscuridad)
Unspecified
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GOLDENTHAL, TAYMOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stepouttheroom
Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
But the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly…
Woman so weary
Spread your unbroken wings
Fly free as the swallow sings
Come to the fireworks
See the dark lady smile
She burns…
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly…
Burn this night
Black and blue
So cold in the morning
So cold without you
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Y la noche que se incendia,
Y la cama que se eleva,
A volar…
And of the dark days
Painted in dark gray hues
They fade with the dream of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Dancing the night away
I burn…
Midnight blue
Spread those wings
Fly free with the swallows
Fly one with the wind
@benjamin4235
Burn It Blue
Song by Caetano Veloso and Lila Downs
OverviewLyricsListen
Main Results
Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
But the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Woman so weary
Spread your broken wings
Fly free as the swallow sings
Come to the firework
See the dark lady smiles
She burns
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Burn this night
Black and blue
So cold in the morning
So cold without you
And the night sky blooms with fire
(Y la noche que se encendia)
And the burning bed floats higher
(Y la cama que lleva)
And she's free to fly
(A volar)
And all of the dark days
Painted in dark grey hues
They fade with the dream of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Dancing the night away
I burn
Midnight blue
Spread those wings
Fly free with the swallows
Fly
One with the wind
why él es flama que se lleva
Why es un pájaro a volar
Why es un pájaro a volar
En la noche que se encendió
(...)
Luces del cielo
And the night sky blooms with fire
(Y eres flama que se lleva)
And the burning bed floats higher
(Y eres un pajaro a volar)
And she´s free to fly
(Y eres un pajaro a volar)
Just a swallow in the sky
(Y eres la noche que se encendia)
...
Much brighter
(bla bla bla why la oscuridad)
Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Goldenthal / Taymor
Burn It Blue lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
@elanasharich8538
Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of this song...
@sophistik000
This is simply one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It wraps around the heart and burns with intensity and suffering. And it makes you happy to have ears.
@hebertejulio8607
Caetano Veloso genial. Um dos maiores artistas brasileiros que o mundo já viu. Orgulho!
@taryndorsey5581
One of my favorite of the soundtrack, which frankly is hard to imagine because all of the songs are glorious!
@stepouttheroom
Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you
But the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly…
Woman so weary
Spread your unbroken wings
Fly free as the swallow sings
Come to the fireworks
See the dark lady smile
She burns…
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly…
Burn this night
Black and blue
So cold in the morning
So cold without you
And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she's free to fly
Y la noche que se incendia,
Y la cama que se eleva,
A volar…
And of the dark days
Painted in dark gray hues
They fade with the dream of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Dancing the night away
I burn…
Midnight blue
Spread those wings
Fly free with the swallows
Fly one with the wind
@MariaMartinez-rs7kb
When my mother died this is one of the songs I had on repeat I'm here because 9 years later it still comforts me. Also Frida Khalo has been my favorite artist since I was a young girl. Rest in Power to two of my favorite women.
@olgarubigarciarodriguez3533
Linda lila Downs viva México, buen dueto felicidades
@OrlandoFerrand
I still remember being lifted, suspended in mid air by the astonishing lyrics and majestic interpretations of Caetano Veloso and Lila Downs at Village East Cinema, where I watched the movie for the first time upon its release. Ever since, I "fly one with the wind" when I listen to this song. One of the best written songs I've ever heard.
@Broblem12
Words cannot desscribe how precious this song is. Blessings!!!
@augustina1344
Грандиозно. Нет слов выразить мой восторг от этой музыки.... ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️