Carlos Lyra is a Brazilian musician and composer of numerous bossa nova cla… Read Full Bio ↴Carlos Lyra is a Brazilian musician and composer of numerous bossa nova classics. He was born - as Carlos Eduardo Lyra Barbosa - on May 11, 1939. Along with Roberto Menescal, he was a primary figure of the younger generation of bossa nova musicians who closely followed the inception of the style by João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Later, he joined Nara Leão as part of the bossa's activist wing, seeking a return to its samba roots. Was also an intellectual behind the movement, forging new directions like the protest song.
He continues to compose, record, and perform today. In 1997, Lyra opened the show 40 Years of Bossa Nova in Tokyo (Japan), together with Roberto Menescal, Leila Pinheiro, and Astrud Gilberto.
Lyra's most famous compositions include "Coisa Mais Linda", "Você e Eu", "Maria Ninguém" (once claimed by Brigitte Bardot to be her favorite song), and "Influência do Jazz".

Quando Chegares
Carlos Lyra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Quando chegares aqui
Podes entrar sem bater
Ligue a vitrola baixinho
Espera o anoitecer

Logo que ouvires meus passos
Corre pra me receber
Sorri, me beija e me abraça

Não me perguntes por quê

Quando estiver em teus braços
Pensa somente em nós dois
Fecha de leve os teus olhos
E abre os teus lábios depois

E quando já for bem cedinho
Não quero ouvir tua voz

Sai sem adeus, de mansinho
Esquece o que ouve entre nós

Overall Meaning

The song "Quando Chegares" by Carlos Lyra speaks of a lover's yearning for their partner's arrival. The singer invites their loved one to come over whenever they want, without any need to knock, and to turn on the record player softly while waiting for the night to fall. They instruct their partner to come running when they hear their footsteps, smile, kiss and embrace them without questioning the reasons behind the invitation. While in each other's arms, the singer suggests they should focus only on the two of them, closing their eyes and then their lips.

However, as the time comes for the loved one to leave, the singer insists on a silent departure, with no goodbyes or explanations. The lyrics are quite straightforward and romantic, with a suggestion of a clandestine relationship between the two. Lyra's delivery adds to the song's sensuality; his gently hoarse voice and the slow pace of the music capturing the illicit passion hidden within the words.

In summary, "Quando Chegares" is the plea of a lover who just wants to be with their beloved and revel in their embrace, albeit temporarily. The lyrics also imply the need for secrecy, the kind that comes with a love that's not supposed to be known or acknowledged.

Line by Line Meaning

Quando chegares aqui
When you arrive at my place

Podes entrar sem bater
You can come in without knocking

Ligue a vitrola baixinho
Turn the record player on low

Espera o anoitecer
Wait until it gets dark

Logo que ouvires meus passos
As soon as you hear me coming

Corre pra me receber
Run to greet me

Sorri, me beija e me abraça
Smile, kiss me, and embrace me

Não me perguntes por quê
Don't ask me why

Quando estiver em teus braços
When I'm in your arms

Pensa somente em nós dois
Think only of the two of us

Fecha de leve os teus olhos
Close your eyes gently