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.
For No One
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
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You find that all her words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you
She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you
And in her eyes you see nothing
A love that should have lasted years
You want her, you need her
And yet you don't believe her
When she says her love is dead
You think she needs you
And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years
You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone but now
He's gone, she no longer need him
Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said
Will fill your head
You won't forget her
And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years
And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years
You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone but now
He's gone, she no longer need him
Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said
Will fill your head
You won't forget her
And in her eyes you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years
The lyrics to Caetano Veloso's song "For No One" describe the lingering pain and confusion of a broken relationship. The singer reflects on their past love, and how the words and actions of their former partner still weigh heavily on their mind, despite the fact that the relationship is over. The singer sees that the person they loved no longer needs them, and that they have moved on to another love (or perhaps no love at all). The pain of this realization is palpable, especially when the singer looks into the eyes of their former partner and sees no love – only tears.
The song's repeated refrain of "A love that should have lasted years" speaks to the bitter disappointment of loving someone who ultimately couldn't reciprocate that love in the way that the singer wanted. They want to hold on to that love, to believe that it wasn't all for nothing, but they know deep down that it's time to move on. The song's final lines suggest that the pain of this experience will never fully go away, but that the singer won't forget their former love either.
Line by Line Meaning
Your day breaks, your mind aches
You wake up feeling sad and stressed, unable to forget about the person who has left you.
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
Even though she is no longer around, you can still remember all the kind things she said to you.
When she no longer needs you
She does not require your presence or assistance anymore.
She wakes up, she makes up
She gets up and puts on a façade, pretending everything is okay.
She takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry
She is in no rush and does not feel pressured to act in any particular way.
She no longer needs you
Your presence or involvement in her life is no longer necessary.
And in her eyes you see nothing
When you look into her eyes, you do not see any traces of the love that was once there.
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
Even though she may cry over losing you, it does not mean that she still loves you.
A love that should have lasted years
The relationship was supposed to have a long-lasting and meaningful connection.
You want her, you need her
You still have strong feelings for her and desire her presence in your life.
And yet you don't believe her
You have doubts about her feelings towards you and her reasons for leaving.
When she says her love is dead
She has expressed that her love for you has ended.
You think she needs you
You believe that she still requires your presence or help, even though this may not be the case.
You stay home, she goes out
You spend your time at home while she goes out and lives her life without you.
She says that long ago she knew someone but now
She tells you that she used to know someone from her past but does not have any connection with them now.
He's gone, she no longer need him
The person she used to know is no longer in her life and she does not require their presence anymore.
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
You will remember all the things she said to you and think about them often.
You won't forget her
Even though she is no longer in your life, you will always remember her and the love you shared.
A love that should have lasted years
The relationship had the potential to be long-lasting and fulfilling, but it unfortunately did not work out.
Contributed by Aria W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.