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.
It's A Long Way
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singing an old, old Beatles song
We're not that strong, My Lord
You know we ain't that strong
I hear my voice among others
In the break of day
Hey, brothers
Say, brothers
Os olhos da cobra verde
Hoje foi que arreparei
Se arreparasse a mais tempo
Não amava quem amei
Arrenego de quem diz
Que o nosso amor se acabou
Ele agora estámais firme
Do que quando começou
A água com areia brinca na beira do mar
A água passa e a areia fica no lugar
E se não tivesse o amor
E se não tivesse essa dor
E se não tivesse sofrer
E se não tivesse chorar
E se não tivesse o amor
No Abaeté tem uma lagoa escura
Arrodeada de areia branca
The opening lyrics of the song describe waking up and singing an old Beatles song, remarking on our weakness as humans, and suggesting that we have a long journey ahead. This speaks to the human condition, acknowledging our frailty and need for strength to face the challenges we encounter in life. The next verse switches to Portuguese and speaks to the idea of love and its endurance. The singer refutes those who claim that love has ended, asserting that it is stronger now than when it began.
The song also includes a repeating refrain that asks what life would be like without love, pain, suffering, and tears. This asks the listener to consider the role of these emotions in shaping our lives and how they give meaning to our experiences. The final verse mentions a lagoon surrounded by white sand, perhaps invoking a sense of peacefulness and hope.
Overall, the song expresses a sense of uncertainty and humility in the face of life's challenges, but also an unwavering faith in the power of love and its endurance.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning
I woke up this morning.
Singing an old, old Beatles song
I was singing an old Beatles song when I woke up.
We're not that strong, My Lord
We as humans are not very strong, Lord.
You know we ain't that strong
You know that we're not that strong.
I hear my voice among others
I can hear my voice among the others singing with me.
In the break of day
It's early in the morning, at the break of day.
Hey, brothers
Hey, my fellow human beings.
Say, brothers
Listen to what I have to say, fellow humans.
It's a long, long, long, long way
The road ahead of us is very long and difficult.
Os olhos da cobra verde
The eyes of the green snake.
Hoje foi que arreparei
It was only today that I noticed.
Se arreparasse a mais tempo
If I had noticed earlier.
Não amava quem amei
I wouldn't have loved who I loved.
Arrenego de quem diz
I deny those who say.
Que o nosso amor se acabou
That our love has ended.
Ele agora está mais firme
Our love is now stronger.
Do que quando começou
Than when it first started.
A água com areia brinca na beira do mar
The water plays with the sand on the beach.
A água passa e a areia fica no lugar
The water washes away, but the sand remains.
E se não tivesse o amor
And if there wasn't love.
E se não tivesse essa dor
And if there wasn't this pain.
E se não tivesse sofrer
And if there wasn't suffering.
E se não tivesse chorar
And if there wasn't crying.
E se não tivesse o amor
And if there wasn't love.
No Abaeté tem uma lagoa escura
In Abaeté there's a dark lagoon.
Arrodeada de areia branca
Surrounded by white sand.
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fafafly8869
Woke up this morning
Singing an old, old Beatles song
We're not that strong, my Lord
You know we ain't that strong
I hear my voice among others
In the break of day
Hey, brothers
Say, brothers
It's a long, long, long, long way
It's a long way
It's a long, it's a long, long, long
It's a long way
Os olhos da cobra verde
Hoje foi que arreparei
Se arreparasse a mais tempo
Não amava quem amei
It's a long way
It's a long, it's a long way
It's a long, long, long
It's a long way
Arrenego de quem diz
Que o nosso amor se acabou
Ele agora está mais firme
Do que quando começou
It's a long road
It's a long, it's a long road
It's a long and winding road
It's a long and winding road
It's a long and winding road
It's a long and winding, long and winding road
A água com areia brinca na beira do mar
A água passa e a areia fica no lugar
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, hard long way
E se não tivesse o amor
E se não tivesse essa dor
E se não tivesse o sofrer
E se não tivesse o chorar (ah, o amor)
E se não tivesse o amor
No Abaeté tem uma lagoa escura
Arrodeada de areia branca
Composição: Caetano Veloso, Baden Powell, Vinícius de Moraes
@gabilima9115
ouvir essa musica é lembrar do tanto que vale a pena viver, dançar... que vontade de ser feliz q n da
@pietrogaletto2c130
Transa é uma transa mesmo!!! Uma transa de culturas, uma com saudosismo, outra nova, misteriosa...! Uma transa de línguas distintas mas ao mesmo tempo usadas para as mesmas coisas, expressar idéias e sentimentos.... Esse trabalho é realmente uma obra prima da nossa música!!!!
@gersonferreiradaschagas4745
Em minha opinião, nenhum outro artista musical promoveu tão aquilitada comunhão entre culturas. Genialidade a serviço do bom gosto.
@mmatteus063
hoje digo sem titubear, esse é o maior disco da música brasileira
@marcossilva9659
Sim
@EDMUNDO0953
Um dos pouquissimos melhores disco do Brasil.👍🏻🤙🏼👊🏼🎧🎤🌄😉😀
@addabeatrixgenet6595
@@marcossilva9659 l
@renatadias2726
Concordo sem titubear
@renatadias2726
@@EDMUNDO0953 pouquíssimo não, amigo. Tem álbum foda a rodo!
@fabiosouza9724
Esse cara formou meu caráter. Minha família só ouvia Roberto.. até q um dia eu ouvi Cae no meu vizinho tocando Transa.. aí.. mudou minha vida! Obg Cae.