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.
I'm Alive
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can we live more mindfully?
And what can we do better?
Better for the Earth, for forrests
For our life, for humanity
Laying the path toward possible
Given people ways to grow food, harvest hood
All in harmony with nature
That's what the Rain Forrest Alliance is doing
Sem braço, sem pernas, sem moedas no pote
Sem uma boca grande pra dizer 'acode'
Estamos aí a sua mercê
Ele chegou aqui, cheio de ferramentas
Desavenças, falsas crenças
Em aço soberba, concreto e poder
'Cê vai viver assim numa caixa de vidro
Ou em leilão de alma por kilo?
Aqui que jaz a mãe nature
Não quero dizer
Que se a janela da alma tem uma trava
Limpe seus olhos que tudo se acalma
Plural, quarta pessoa, verbo proteger
I'm alive and vivo, muito vivo vivo
Feel the sound of music banging in my belly belly
And I know the one day I must die
I'm alive
Quero aprender com o passarinhos melodias mais sutis
Fazer poesias delicadas como a Flor-de-lis
Obrigada natureza, é assim que se diz
O Sol nasce todo dia nem precisa pedir bis
I'm alive! I'm alive! Oohh
Clama a floresta eh eh eh eh eh
Sem fôlego
Para fazer dos teus frutos ninhos
Imagine como será
O céu chora, até chegar no mar
Demora
I'm alive and vivo, muito vivo vivo
Feel the sound of music banging in my belly belly
And I know the one day I must die
(I'm alive)
Yes I know the one day I must die
(I'm alive)
Corre por tu savia, corre por tu sangre
Tiempo diferente, tiempo idêntico
Corre el tiempo en mis arrugas
Y en tus círculos concéntricos
Pétalas de um bem-me-quer
Arte, não mais, não menos
Jamais, sempre , parte um
Sábio pajé falou, abre o xamã
Quem louva a beleza da natureza guarda o amanhã
Eu, fã de quem constrói sem concreto
O que fica edifica pela palavra, dialeto
Nem todo poema é tinta e papel
Saiba ver de onde vem, onde tem
Cada alvorecer
Eu sou a mãe e tenho sentimentos
Escuta o meu lamento, eu quero mais amor
Eu sigo viva em silencio grito
Digo e repito eu quero mais amor
And I know the one day I must die
(I'm alive)
And I know the one day I must die
(I'm alive)
Yes I know the one day I must die
(I'm alive)
O rio ri
O céu chora
E até chegar ao mar
Demora
(I'm alive)
O rio ri
O céu chora
E até chegar ao mar
Demora
The song "I'm Alive" by Caetano Veloso is a call to action for living more mindfully and sustainably. The lyrics begin with a series of questions, urging listeners to consider how they can do better for the earth, forests, and humanity. The Rain Forest Alliance is specifically mentioned as an organization that is laying the path towards a more harmonious relationship with nature while also allowing people to earn a decent living. The second verse shifts to a more personal reflection on life, with the singer acknowledging their mortality but also celebrating their aliveness. The third verse returns to the theme of environmental stewardship, with a plea to listen to the cries of the forest and to imagine the beauty that can be created when we make use of its fruits rather than destroying it.
The chorus of "I'm Alive" is perhaps the most memorable part of the song. The repetition of "I'm alive" emphasizes the singer's appreciation for life, and the repetition of "vivo" in the Portuguese version emphasizes the energy and vitality that comes with being alive. The line "Feel the sound of music banging in my belly belly" is particularly evocative, suggesting that the singer is moved deeply by the music and perhaps suggesting that music has a physical impact on the body.
Overall, "I'm Alive" is a song that encourages us to appreciate life while also recognizing our responsibility to care for the earth and each other. It is a call to action for living more mindfully and making choices that support sustainability.
Line by Line Meaning
If we ask ourselfs everyday
Asking ourselves daily, how to live mindfully & how to do better for Earth, forests, humanity
How can we live more mindfully?
Inquire on ways to live more thoughtfully
And what can we do better?
Questioning how can we improve better for Earth climate, forests sustainability & humanity
Better for the Earth, for forrests
Living consciously for the benefit of Earth environment and forests biodiversity
For our life, for humanity
Living thoughtfully for a better way of human life
Laying the path toward possible
Creating a pathway to a sustainable future
Given people ways to grow food, harvest hood
Providing people with sustainable means to produce food and harvest resources
All in harmony with nature
Living sustainably in perfect harmony with nature
And to earn a decent living in the process
To earn a decent livelihood while living in sustainable harmony with nature
That's what the Rain Forrest Alliance is doing
Rainforest Alliance works to promote green responsible agriculture and sustainable production of commodities such as coffee, palm oil and cocoa.
Sem braço, sem pernas, sem moedas no pote
Without arm, without legs, without coins in the jar
Sem uma boca grande pra dizer 'acode'
Without a big mouth to cry for help
Estamos aí a sua mercê
We are here at your mercy
Ele chegou aqui, cheio de ferramentas
He arrived here with lots of tools
Desavenças, falsas crenças
Dissensions, false beliefs
Em aço soberba, concreto e poder
In steel arrogance, concrete and power
'Cê vai viver assim numa caixa de vidro
Are you going to live in a glass box like this?
Ou em leilão de alma por kilo?
Or in an auction of the soul by kilo?
Aqui que jaz a mãe nature
Here lies mother nature
Não quero dizer
I don't mean
Que se a janela da alma tem uma trava
That if the window of the soul has a lock
Limpe seus olhos que tudo se acalma
Clean your eyes, and everything will calm down
Plural, quarta pessoa, verbo proteger
Plural, fourth person, verb to protect
I'm alive and vivo, muito vivo vivo
I'm alive and very much alive
Feel the sound of music banging in my belly belly
Feeling the music resonate within me
And I know the one day I must die
I'm aware of my limited time on this Earth
Quero aprender com o passarinhos melodias mais sutis
I want to learn from birds the subtle melodies
Fazer poesias delicadas como a Flor-de-lis
To write delicate poems like a Lily Flower
Obrigada natureza, é assim que se diz
Thank you, nature, that's what is said
O Sol nasce todo dia nem precisa pedir bis
The sun rises every day, there's no need for an encore
I'm alive! I'm alive! Oohh
I'm alive! I'm alive!
Clama a floresta eh eh eh eh eh
The forest calls out
Sem fôlego
Breathless
Para fazer dos teus frutos ninhos
To make nests from your fruits
Imagine como será
Imagine how it will be
O céu chora, até chegar no mar
The sky cries until it reaches the sea
Demora
It takes time
Corre por tu savia, corre por tu sangre
It flows through your sap, it flows through your blood
Tiempo diferente, tempo idêntico
Different time, the same time
Corre el tiempo en mis arrugas
Time runs through my wrinkles
Y en tus círculos concéntricos
And in your concentric circles
Pétalas de um bem-me-quer
Petals of a 'loves-me-loves-me-not' flower
Arte, não mais, não menos
Art, no more, no less
Jamais, sempre , parte um
Never, always, it starts with one
Sábio pajé falou, abre o xamã
The wise shaman said, open the shaman
Quem louva a beleza da natureza guarda o amanhã
Those who praise the beauty of nature, protect tomorrow
Eu, fã de quem constrói sem concreto
I'm a fan of those who build without concrete
O que fica edifica pela palavra, dialeto
What remains is built by words and dialect
Nem todo poema é tinta e papel
Not every poem is ink and paper
Saiba ver de onde vem, onde tem
Know where it comes from, where it is
Cada alvorecer
Every dawn
Eu sou a mãe e tenho sentimentos
I am the mother and have feelings
Escuta o meu lamento, eu quero mais amor
Listen to my lament, I want more love
Eu sigo viva em silencio grito
I am silently shouting while still alive
Digo e repito eu quero mais amor
I say and repeat I want more love
O rio ri
The river laughs
E até chegar ao mar
Until it reaches the sea
Demora
It takes time
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH
Written by: Andres Levin, Angelo Silva, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Prada, Jose Ramos, Julia Teixeira, Julyany Rodrigues, Kleber Gomes, Leandro Oliveira, Oswaldo pimentel, Roger Cury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind