Born into a poor family in Maceió (capital of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil), Djavan formed the group Luz, Som, Dimensão (LSD - "Light, Sound, Dimension"), playing Beatles covers. In 1973 Djavan moved to Rio de Janeiro and started singing in local nightclubs. After competing in several festivals he gained attention and recorded the album A Voz, o Violão e a Arte de Djavan in 1976. The album included the song "Flor de Lis" which became one of his most memorable hits. Albums that followed included his other musical influence, African music, and additional hits followed like "Açaí", "Sina" and "Samurai", which featured Stevie Wonder's harmonica. His best known compositions are: "Meu Bem Querer", "Oceano", "Faltando um Pedaço", "Esquinas", "Seduzir", "Pétala", "Lilás", "A Ilha", "Fato Consumado", "Álibi", "Azul" and "Serrado".
His songs have been recorded by Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae, The Manhattan Transfer, and, in Brazil by Gal Costa, Dori Caymmi, Nana Caymmi, Lenine, João Bosco, Chico Buarque, Daniela Mercury, Ney Matogrosso, Dominguinhos, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethânia, Johnny Alf, and other artists. The 1988 Epic Records single, "Stephen's Kingdom", featured a guest appearance from Stevie Wonder.
In 1999, his live concert double-volume album, Ao Vivo, has sold 1.2 million copies and the song, "Acelerou" became the Best Brazilian song of the year at 2000 Latin Grammy Awards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djavan
Cara de índio
Djavan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
cara de índio.
Índio cara pálida,
cara de índio.
Sua ação é válida, meu caro índio.
Sua ação é válida, válida ao índio.
Nessa terra tudo dá,
terra de índio.
não para o índio.
Quando alguém puder plantar,
quem sabe índio.
Quando alguém puder plantar,
não é índio.
Índio quer se nomear,
nome de índio.
Índio quer se nomear,
duvido índio.
Isso pode demorar,
te cuida índio.
Isso pode demorar,
coisa de índio.
Índio sua pipoca,
tá pouca índio.
Índio quer pipoca,
te toca índio.
Se o índio se tocar,
touca de índio.
Se o índio toca,
não chove índio.
Se quer abrir a boca,
pra sorrir índio.
Se quer abrir a boca,
na toca índio.
A minha também tá pouca,
cota de índio.
Apesar da minha roupa,
também sou índio.
The song "Cara de Índio" by Djavan is a poignant commentary on the plight of the Indigenous people of Brazil. The title, "Cara de Índio," translates to "Indian face," with "Indian" referring to the Indigenous people of Brazil. The song begins with the repetition of the line "Índio cara pálida, cara de índio," which means "Pale-faced Indian, Indian face." Here, the songwriter is drawing attention to the irony of the fact that the Indigenous people have been displaced from their own land, yet they are still seen as the face of Brazil.
The lyrics also highlight the struggles faced by the Indigenous people in accessing resources in their own land. The line "Nessa terra tudo dá, terra de índio. Nessa terra tudo dá, não para o índio" means "In this land, everything grows, land of the Indian. In this land, everything grows, but not for the Indian." This illustrates the paradoxical reality that the land is bountiful, yet the Indigenous people do not have access to its resources, which are exploited by others.
The song further alludes to the forced westernization and assimilation of Indigenous people. The lines "Índio quer se nomear, nome de índio. Índio quer se nomear, duvido índio" mean "The Indian wants to be named, Indian name. The Indian wants to be named, I doubt it, Indian." This suggests that the Indigenous people are not allowed to embrace their culture and traditions, even their names, as they are pushed to assimilate into Western society.
Overall, "Cara de Índio" is a powerful commentary on the issues faced by the Indigenous people of Brazil, including displacement, exploitation, and assimilation.
Line by Line Meaning
Índio cara pálida, cara de índio.
The person being addressed has a light skin tone, but they look like an indigenous person due to their features.
Sua ação é válida, meu caro índio. Sua ação é válida, válida ao índio.
The actions taken by the indigenous person being addressed are valid and important.
Nessa terra tudo dá, terra de índio. Nessa terra tudo dá, não para o índio.
The land is rich and fertile, but it's not the indigenous people who benefit from it.
Quando alguém puder plantar, quem sabe índio. Quando alguém puder plantar, não é índio.
If someone is able to farm the land, they won't be considered indigenous anymore.
Índio quer se nomear, nome de índio. Índio quer se nomear, duvido índio.
Indigenous people want to be known by their indigenous names, but the artist doubts that it will happen.
Isso pode demorar, te cuida índio. Isso pode demorar, coisa de índio.
It may be a long time before things change, and the singer warns the indigenous person to be careful. The delay is something that happens to indigenous people all the time.
Índio sua pipoca, tá pouca índio. Índio quer pipoca, te toca índio.
The indigenous person being addressed doesn't have enough popcorn. They are told to get their own.
Se o índio se tocar, touca de índio. Se o índio toca, não chove índio.
If the indigenous person realizes what's going on, they will be labeled as an indigenous person. But if they don't, they won't be recognized.
Se quer abrir a boca, pra sorrir índio. Se quer abrir a boca, na toca índio.
If the indigenous person wants to smile, they are encouraged to do so. But if they want to speak up, they are told to keep quiet.
A minha também tá pouca, cota de índio. Apesar da minha roupa, também sou índio.
The artist is also experiencing scarcity, but recognizes that despite their appearance, they too are indigenous.
Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.