A researcher of Brazilian popular music, its rhythms and folklore, she has also traveled to many countries representing the Brazilian culture. A connoisseur of African music, dance, traditions, and religions, she converted to Candomblé and took Afro-Brazilian culture into her songs and costumes. She was one of the singers who recorded the most songs by the composers of Portela, her favorite samba school. She was also the first female Brazilian singer to sell more than one hundred thousand records, breaking a taboo according to which women did not sell records in Brazil. During her whole career she sold four million four hundred thousand records. She was considered by Rolling Stone magazine as the ninth greatest Brazilian voice and, by the same magazine, the fifty-first greatest Brazilian artist of all time.
On April 2, 1983, she died at age 40, after suffering from anaphylaxis during a surgery to treat varicose veins. Even today she remains one of the most popular singers in Brazil.
Na Linha Do Mar
Clara Nunes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Galo cantou às quatro
Da manhã
Céu azulou na linha
Do mar
Vou me embora desse
Mundo de ilusão
Quem me vê sorrir,
Chorar
Flechas sorrateiras,
Cheias de veneno
Querem atingir o meu
Coração
Mas o meu amor sempre
Tão sereno
Serve de escudo pra
Qualquer ingratidão
(VOLTA I)
Lá laiá laiá laiá laiá laiá
Lá lá lá laiá
The first line of Clara Nunes's song "Na Linha Do Mar" contains the image of a rooster crowing at four in the morning, signaling the start of a new day. The second line uses the phrase "céu azulou na linha do mar," which means the sky turned blue on the horizon of the sea, indicating the beginning of daytime. The third line reveals the singer's intention to leave the world of illusion behind, suggesting that the onset of the new day inspires a new awakening within her. However, she acknowledges that this world has caused her pain and that even though she appears happy, deep down, she is suffering.
In the second verse, the singer describes the arrows that threaten to pierce her heart. They are venomous and come from an unnamed source. Despite this, she is protected by her love, which remains calm and strong even in the face of ingratitude. The chorus repeats the melody "Lá laiá laiá laiá laiá laiá Lá lá lá laiá," while the lyrics are left up to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Galo cantou!
The rooster crowed!
Galo cantou às quatro
The rooster crowed at four in the morning
Da manhã
Of the morning
Céu azulou na linha
The sky turned blue on the horizon
Do mar
Of the sea
Vou me embora desse
I'm leaving behind
Mundo de ilusão
This world of illusions
Quem me vê sorrir,
Anyone who sees me smile,
Não há de me ver
Won't see me
Chorar
Cry
Flechas sorrateiras,
Sneaky arrows,
Cheias de veneno
Filled with venom
Querem atingir o meu
They want to reach my
Coração
Heart
Mas o meu amor sempre
But my love is always
Tão sereno
So peaceful
Serve de escudo pra
Serves as a shield for
Qualquer ingratidão
Any ingratitude
(VOLTA I)
(RETURN I)
Lá laiá laiá laiá laiá laiá
La laiá laiá laiá laiá laiá
Lá lá lá laiá
La la la laiá
Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.