Byrd primarily looked up to Django Reinhardt. He moved to Washington, D.C., to study classical guitar with the renowned Sophocles Papas. He later moved to Italy where he studied with Andrés Segovia. In the early 1960's he was on a State Department tour in South America where he was introduced to a new music, the bossa nova, which was the musical passion of Brazil beginning in the late 50's. Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz had been in Brazil about six months earlier than Byrd, also on a State Department tour, where he, too, was exposed to the bossa nova. A short time later Getz called Byrd in D.C. and suggested the idea that they collaborate on a bossa nova album. That album was the introduction of bossa nova to North America.
He is perhaps most well known as a collaborator with Stan Getz on the Jazz Samba album, which featured many themes of bossa nova, and of course, samba.
Desafinada
Charlie Byrd Lyrics
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Saiba que isso em mim provoca imensa dor
Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu
Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu
Se você insisted em classificar
meu comportamento de antimusical
Eu mesmo mentindo Devo argumentar
O que você não sabe nem sequer pressente
é que os desafinados também têm um coração
Fotografei você na minha Rolleyflex
Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão
Só não poderá falar assim do meu amor
Este é o maior que você pode encontrar
Você com a sua música esqueceu o principal
é que no peito dos desafinados
No fundo do peito bate calado
Que no peito dos desafinados
também bate um coração
The lyrics of Desafinado describe the pain and frustration that the singer feels when told that they are out of tune or not musical. They explain that having perfect pitch is a rare gift and not everyone possesses it. The lyrics urge the listener not to judge them based on their musical ability as they argue that what they are playing is bossa nova and it is a natural part of their identity. The line "o que você não sabe nem sequer pressente é que os desafinados também têm um coração" (what you don't know or even realize is that the out of tune also have a heart) serves as a reminder that even the slightly less-than-perfect can have deep emotions and feelings.
The lyrics also touch on themes of betrayal and ingratitude when the singer mentions that they captured a photograph of the person they loved but it revealed their ungrateful behavior. However, the singer reaffirms their love and declares that it is the greatest love that one can find. The song ends on a hopeful note, reminding the listener that even those who are out of tune also have a beating heart in their chest.
Line by Line Meaning
Se você disser que eu desafino, amor
If you say that I sing out of tune, my love,
Saiba que isso em mim provoca imensa dor
know that it causes immense pain within me.
Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu
Only the privileged have an ear like yours.
Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu
I only possess what God has given me.
Se você insisted em classificar
If you insist on classifying
meu comportamento de antimusical
my behavior as unmusical,
Eu mesmo mentindo Devo argumentar
Even though I must lie, I must argue
Que isto é bossa nova Que isto é muito natural
That this is Bossa Nova, that this is very natural.
O que você não sabe nem sequer pressente
What you don't even know or sense
é que os desafinados também têm um coração
is that the tone-deaf also have a heart.
Fotografei você na minha Rolleyflex
I took a photo of you with my Rolleiflex.
Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão
Your enormous ingratitude was revealed.
Só não poderá falar assim do meu amor
You can't say that about my love,
Este é o maior que você pode encontrar
This is the greatest love you can find.
Você com a sua música esqueceu o principal
You, with your music, have forgotten the main thing
é que no peito dos desafinados
that in the hearts of the tone-deaf
No fundo do peito bate calado
deep down, beats silently
Que no peito dos desafinados
That in the hearts of the tone-deaf
também bate um coração
there is also a beating heart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, NEWTON MENDONCA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind