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
Na Boca Do Beco
Djavan Lyrics
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Eu pergunto:
Cadê os meus amigos
Meus camaradas
Meus parceiros?
Na hora que eu mais necessito deles não acho um
O Zé tá pra São Paulo
Até o Biu desapareceu
Chico Careca, já cansei de bater
Na casa da esquina e nem
Já é quase noite
E o negão num açoite
Na boca do beco vai aparecer
E eu vou ter que encarar
E não posso perder
Que a crioula vai ver
Tomei decisão como último tiro
Gritei num suspiro:
"Ganhei o bolão
E não tenho um irmão
Com quem possa gastar!"
De repentemente a turma pintou
Com sorriso nos dentes
Me dizendo contente:
" Ah! deixa isso com a gente!"
No final do barato
Eu ganhei do negão
E, sem grana na mão
A turma me ganhou
Quando sacou o grupo
E hoje a crioula está de luto
No final do barato
Eu ganhei do negão
E, sem grana na mão
A turma me ganhou
Quando sacou o grupo
E hoje a crioula está de luto
E hoje a crioula está de luto, ê!
E hoje a crioula está de luto
The lyrics to "Na Boca Do Beco" by Djavan express feelings of desperation, loneliness and betrayal. The singer is in a difficult moment of his life and needs the support of his friends, but they are not there when he needs them the most. He asks where they are, but he can't find anyone. The Zé character has left for São Paulo, Pedro has died and even Biu has disappeared. He is tired of knocking on Chico Careca's door without any answer. The singer is left alone, and night is falling. He knows he will have to face the challenges of the "boca do beco" (a dangerous neighborhood) and that he cannot lose, because a woman he likes will be watching.
In desperation, he lies to his friends, telling them he won a big prize, hoping to have someone to share it with. Slowly, the group begins to appear, and they tell him not to worry. When the time comes to face the challenges of the "boca do beco," the singer wins against his adversary, but without any money left, his friends win in the end. The final line repeats that the woman the singer likes is in mourning.
The sadness and loneliness in the lyrics are juxtaposed with the upbeat, jazzy music, creating an ironic contrast. The song is a reflection on the importance of true friendship, the need to trust people during difficult moments and the difficulty of facing challenges alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Na hora da agonia
At the moment of agony
Eu pergunto: Cadê os meus amigos Meus camaradas Meus parceiros?
I ask: Where are my friends? My comrades? My partners?
Na hora que eu mais necessito deles não acho um
At the time when I need them the most, I can't find any
O Zé tá pra São Paulo E Pedro morreu Até o Biu desapareceu Chico Careca, já cansei de bater Na casa da esquina e nem Já é quase noite E o negão num açoite Na boca do beco vai aparecer E eu vou ter que encarar E não posso perder Que a crioula vai ver
Zé went to São Paulo, Pedro died, even Biu disappeared, I'm tired of knocking on Chico Careca's door on the corner and it's getting late, the negão is appearing in the alley and I have to face him and I can't lose or the crioula will see it
Tomei decisão como último tiro Gritei num suspiro: 'Ganhei o bolão E não tenho um irmão Com quem possa gastar!'
I made the decision like a last resort, I shouted in a sigh: 'I won the lottery and I don't have a brother to spend it with!'
De repentemente a turma pintou Com sorriso nos dentes Me dizendo contente: ' Ah! deixa isso com a gente!'
Suddenly, the gang showed up with smiles on their faces, telling me happily: 'Ah, leave it to us!'
No final do barato Eu ganhei do negão E, sem grana na mão A turma me ganhou Quando sacou o grupo E hoje a crioula está de luto
In the end, I won against the negão, but I had no money left and the gang won me over when they realized we are a group, and today the crioula is mourning
E hoje a crioula está de luto, ê!
And today the crioula is mourning, hey!
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.