Desde que o samba é samba
Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A tristeza é senhora
Desde que o samba é samba é assim
A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
A noite a chuva que cai lá fora

Solidão apavora
Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Mas alguma coisa acontece
No sempre agora em mim
Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora

O samba ainda vai nascer
O samba ainda não chegou
O samba não vai morrer
Veja, o dia ainda não raiou
O samba é pai do prazer




O samba é filho da dor
O grande poder transformador

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “Desde Que O Samba é Samba” by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil reflect the bittersweet nature of the samba genre. The first line, “A tristeza é senhora” (Sadness is master), sets the tone for the rest of the song. The sadness that accompanies samba is a constant companion, represented by the clear teardrop on the dark skin of the singer. The rain falling outside on the night reinforces the gloomy mood. However, there is a sense that something can change. The phrase “Mas alguma coisa acontece/ No sempre agora em mim” (But something happens/ In the always now in me) holds promise, perhaps suggesting that singing samba is a form of catharsis that helps the singer move past the melancholy.


The latter half of the song is more optimistic, asserting that samba still has a great deal left to offer. The assertion “O samba ainda vai nascer” (Samba is yet to be born) seems paradoxical, given that the song itself is being sung by veteran samba singers. However, this declaration is a nod to the improvisational nature of samba, which is constantly evolving and changing. The lyrics go on to declare samba as the “father of pleasure” and the “son of pain,” highlighting its complex emotional impact. Finally, the song declares samba to be a “great transformative power.” Despite the sadness that permeates the genre, samba can be a catalyst for change and progress.


Line by Line Meaning

A tristeza é senhora
Sadness is in control


Desde que o samba é samba é assim
Ever since samba became samba, it's been that way


A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
Clear tears on dark skin


A noite a chuva que cai lá fora
The night, the rain that falls outside


Solidão apavora
Solitude is scary


Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Everything takes too long to get better


Mas alguma coisa acontece
But something happens


No sempre agora em mim
In the always present moment inside me


Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora
Singing, I make sadness go away


O samba ainda vai nascer
Samba is still going to be born


O samba ainda não chegou
Samba has not yet arrived


O samba não vai morrer
Samba will not die


Veja, o dia ainda não raiou
See, the day has not yet dawned


O samba é pai do prazer
Samba is the father of pleasure


O samba é filho da dor
Samba is the child of pain


O grande poder transformador
The great transformative power




Contributed by Samuel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Antisseptica

LETRA
A tristeza é senhora
Desde que o samba é samba é assim
A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
A noite, a chuva que cai lá fora

Solidão apavora
Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Mas alguma coisa acontece
No quando agora em mim
Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora

A tristeza é senhora
Desde que o samba é samba é assim
A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
A noite e a chuva que cai lá fora

Solidão apavora
Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Mas alguma coisa acontece
No quando agora em mim
Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora

O samba ainda vai nascer
O samba ainda não chegou
O samba não vai morrer
Veja o dia ainda não raiou
O samba é o pai do prazer
O samba é o filho da dor
O grande poder transformador



Marcos Felippe

Sadness is a maddame
Since the samba its samba has been like this
The bright tear on the dark skin
The night, the rain that flows outside

Loneliness frightens
Since the samba its samba has been like this
But something happens
In the when, now on me
Singing I send the sadness away

Sadness is a maddame
Since the samba its samba has been like this
The bright tear on the dark skin
The night, the rain that flows outside

Loneliness frightens
Since the samba its samba has been like this
But something happens
In the when, now on me
Singing I send the sadness away

Samba its still to be born
Samba is yet to arrive
Samba is never gonna die
See, the dawn of the day is yet to occur
Samba is father of pleasure
Samba is son of the pain
The big power of trasformation

(I just did this translation, so it's not entirely reliable hahah but i think you can get the vibe at least a little bit)



714Sluggo

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/desde-que-o-samba-%C3%A9-samba-samba-samba.html

Since Samba Is Samba
Sadness is the ruler
Since samba is samba it's like that

The clear tear on the dark skin
At night the rain pouring outside
Loneliness terrifies us
Everything lingering in being so bad
But something happens
In the present time inside of me
Singing I turn sadness away

Samba will still be born
Samba hasn't arrived yet
Samba won't die
See, the day still hasn't rose
Samba is the father of pleasure
Samba is the son of pain
The great transforming power

Sadness is the ruler
Since samba is samba it's like that
But something happens
In the present time inside of me
Singing I turn sadness away
Singing I turn sadness away



All comments from YouTube:

Antisseptica

LETRA
A tristeza é senhora
Desde que o samba é samba é assim
A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
A noite, a chuva que cai lá fora

Solidão apavora
Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Mas alguma coisa acontece
No quando agora em mim
Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora

A tristeza é senhora
Desde que o samba é samba é assim
A lágrima clara sobre a pele escura
A noite e a chuva que cai lá fora

Solidão apavora
Tudo demorando em ser tão ruim
Mas alguma coisa acontece
No quando agora em mim
Cantando eu mando a tristeza embora

O samba ainda vai nascer
O samba ainda não chegou
O samba não vai morrer
Veja o dia ainda não raiou
O samba é o pai do prazer
O samba é o filho da dor
O grande poder transformador

Antonio almeida barbosa de lima

Coisa linda essa música 🎷

Noa Baak

For last few days, I have listened to this son wherever I go, here in New York. It helped me breathe.

aquamatch

Oh my, this song takes you away to another dimension. Happiness, acceptance, beauty, hope...

Ganja Mozart

The balance, harmony, rhythm, voices, guitars, sentiment, lyrics all perfect!

Just Passing by

Even i dont understand any word but still i love listening. This is the real power of music. I love it!

Marcos Felippe

Sadness is a maddame
Since the samba its samba has been like this
The bright tear on the dark skin
The night, the rain that flows outside

Loneliness frightens
Since the samba its samba has been like this
But something happens
In the when, now on me
Singing I send the sadness away

Sadness is a maddame
Since the samba its samba has been like this
The bright tear on the dark skin
The night, the rain that flows outside

Loneliness frightens
Since the samba its samba has been like this
But something happens
In the when, now on me
Singing I send the sadness away

Samba its still to be born
Samba is yet to arrive
Samba is never gonna die
See, the dawn of the day is yet to occur
Samba is father of pleasure
Samba is son of the pain
The big power of trasformation

(I just did this translation, so it's not entirely reliable hahah but i think you can get the vibe at least a little bit)

Victor Ramos

Que coisa bonita!

gurabeno

Perfección.

Marcos Vinícios Botelho

Um alento para esta quarentena!

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