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.
Méditation
Charlie Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No amor, no sorriso, na flor
Então sonhou, sonhou
E perdeu a paz
O amor, o sorriso e a flor
Se transformam depressa demais
Quem, no coração
Abrigou a tristeza de ver
E, na solidão
Procurou um caminho e seguiu
Já descrente de um dia feliz
Quem chorou, chorou
E tanto que seu pranto já secou
Quem depois voltou
Ao amor, ao sorriso e à flor
Então tudo encontrou
Pois a própria dor
Revelou o caminho do amor
E a tristeza acabou
Translation:
The one who believed
In love, in smiles, in flowers
Then dreamed, dreamed
And lost their peace
Love, smiles and flowers
Transform too quickly
The one who, in their heart,
Harbored the sadness of seeing
All of this being lost
And, in solitude,
Sought a path and followed
Already disbelieving in a happy day
The one who cried, cried
And so much that their tears ran out
The one who returned later
To love, to smiles and to flowers
Then found everything
For their own pain
Revealed the path of love
And the sadness ended
Interpretation:
The lyrics of this song are talking about the journey of love and its effects on people. It speaks to the idea that those who believe in love, smiles and beauty, such as flowers, are often filled with hopes and dreams. However, these same things can disappear quickly, leaving people feeling a sense of loss and emptiness. Despite this, the song encourages those who have experienced the sadness of love to keep searching for their path and not give up on happiness. Eventually, they will find a way to move forward, as the pain they have experienced will show them the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem acreditou
If you believed
No amor, no sorriso, na flor
In love, smiles, and flowers
Então sonhou, sonhou
Then you dreamed, dreamed
E perdeu a paz
And lost your peace
O amor, o sorriso e a flor
Love, smiles, and flowers
Se transformam depressa demais
Change too quickly
Quem, no coração
Who, in their heart
Abrigou a tristeza de ver
Was burdened with sadness from seeing
Tudo isto se perder
All of this being lost
E, na solidão
And in loneliness
Procurou um caminho e seguiu
Sought a path and followed it
Já descrente de um dia feliz
Already disbelieving in a happy day
Quem chorou, chorou
Whoever cried, cried
E tanto que seu pranto já secou
So much that your tears have already dried
Quem depois voltou
Whoever returned
Ao amor, ao sorriso e à flor
To love, smiles, and flowers
Então tudo encontrou
Found everything then
Pois a própria dor
Because the pain itself
Revelou o caminho do amor
Revealed the path of love
E a tristeza acabou
And the sadness ended
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Antonio Carlos Brasileiro De A Jobim, Newton Mendonca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danpequeno9233
This is a timelessly beautiful song and performance that I have listened to for many years by Mr Charlie Byrd an expert on the guitar that I need to hear every so often.
@sebi2474
I have his album on vinyl I don't actually have a record player but when I saw it in a thrift store the cover spoke to me with all those birds surrounding him and I love Bossa Nova. Especially Astrud Gilberto and I finally took the time to listen to it and now I'm here. Who knew a 15 year old Mexican boy who found a vinyl in a Vegas thrift shop would end up here.
@robertvonbargenididtooandi3060
cute story, amigo! Bossa Nova came to U.S. with Americans who'd been to Brazil. One of them Clare Fisher (a man) was at the Lighthouse when I first came to LA (in 1962) and he explained the genre and played a number of tunes he'd learned there... That was when I fell in love with i t/
@evelynbishop9382
I had this vinyl album years ago. I would play it over and over. Such a great talent!
@therasound
Masterful...the song, the arrangements, the production AND the performance.
@danpequeno9233
Downright beautiful!
@WimGrundy
Just now at the tender age of sixty discovering the joys of Charlie Byrd. I had only listened to "The Byrds" before - not that Roger and them didn't move me - then....
@brianlevine4802
I have this in original vinyl.My Dad was s big jazz fan.Grew up across the bay from Ft. Adams State Park where Newport Jazz Festival is held.
@kennnethtreistman1973
My favorite version was the Claudine Longet 1966 version, that had laughter at the end of the track.
@fuzzprobe
I found this 45 at a local store and when I DJ, I like to start each set with it, irrespective of genre.