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
Jogral
Djavan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No dia em que eu vim de casa
Cheirando à beira-de-rio
No pensamento umas asas
Pra cumprir melhor meu desafio
Meu pensamento rodou
Cortando o torrão nesse trem
Acho que a mais de cem
De Maceió aqui parece ali
Mãe disse que eu não aceite
Corja com más companhias
Quando deitar, tome o leite
Depois reze três Ave-Marias
Meu pensamento rodou
Cortando o torrão nesse trem
Andando bem...
Acho que a mais de cem
De Maceió aqui parece ali
Um dia ainda sou cantor
Faz um ano que eu te disse brincando
Eu fui pensar no meu amor
Agora tô aqui quase chorando
No dia em que eu vim de casa
Cheirando à beira de rio
No pensamento umas asas
Prá cumprir melhor meu desfio
E muita água rolou...
The lyrics of Djavan's song Jogral tells the story of a young man who leaves his home smelling like the river to pursue his dreams. He reflects on his mother's advice to avoid bad company and to pray before sleeping. Despite the distance from his hometown, he notes that some things in the new place appear similar to home. He then shares his aspirations to become a singer, including his recent realization that he is in love, which almost brings him to tears.
The song captures the themes of longing, growing up, and striving for a better life. The singer is looking for a way to fulfill his dreams and make his life better, but he is also trying to maintain his connections to home and the values he was raised with. The imagery of the river in the opening lines and the mention of his mother's advice add emotional depth to the song, evoking the sense of nostalgia and the desire to hold onto one's roots.
Overall, Jogral is a touching and introspective song that resonates with anyone who has left home to pursue their dreams but still cherishes the memories and lessons of their past.
Line by Line Meaning
No dia em que eu vim de casa
On the day that I left home
Cheirando à beira-de-rio
Smelling like riverside
No pensamento umas asas
In my mind, some wings
Pra cumprir melhor meu desafio
To better fulfill my challenge
Meu pensamento rodou
My thoughts wandered
Cortando o torrão nesse trem
Cutting through the land on this train
Andando bem...
Going well...
Acho que a mais de cem
I think it's over a hundred
De Maceió aqui parece ali
From Maceió, here seems like there
Mãe disse que eu não aceite
Mom said that I shouldn't accept
Corja com más companhias
A gang with bad company
Quando deitar, tome o leite
When you lay down, drink your milk
Depois reze três Ave-Marias
Then say three Hail Mary's
Um dia ainda sou cantor
One day I'll be a singer
Faz um ano que eu te disse brincando
It's been a year since I jokingly told you
Eu fui pensar no meu amor
I went to think about my love
Agora tô aqui quase chorando
Now I'm here almost crying
E muita água rolou...
And a lot of water has flowed...
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.