Brazilian guitarist and singer. The son of Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris … Read Full Bio ↴Brazilian guitarist and singer. The son of Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris and brother of Nana Caymmi and Danilo Caymmi's studied piano, guitar and music theory since childhood. His professional debut happened when he accompanied sister Nana on a concert. His main influence comes from his father, João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. In the 1960s, he became a producer, arranger and musical director. His career as a songwriter stood out in that same period, when he had songs interpreted by MPB-4 ("Cantigo"), Nana Caymmi ("Saveiros", with Nelson Motta) and Elis Regina ("O Cantador", with Nelson Motta) in festivals. In the 1970s, he wrote music scores for movies and television shows, and in the 80s he turned toward the international market, settling in Los Angeles. Dori's peculiar way of playing the guitar, with unconventional tunings and creative harmonies, has helped projecting his career outside of Brasil. Other hits: "De Onde Vens" (with N. Motta), recorded by Elis and Nara Leão, and "Festa", recorded by Jair Rodrigues, Elis and Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66.

Saveiros
Dori Caymmi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nem bem a noite terminou
Vão os saveiros para o mar
Levam no dia que amanhece
As mesmas esperanças
Do dia que passou

Quantos partiram de manhã?
Quem sabe quantos vão voltar?

Só quando o sol descansar
E se os ventos deixarem
Os barcos vão voltar
Quantas histórias pra contar

E em cada vela que aparece
Um canto de alegria
De quem venceu o mar

E em cada vela que aparece

Um canto de alegria
De quem venceu o mar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dori Caymmi's song Saveiros take the listener on a journey to the sea with the saveiros, traditional wooden boats from Bahia, Brazil. The song begins with the description of night ending and the saveiros setting sail towards the sea at daybreak, carrying the same hopes they had the day before. The uncertainty of how many will leave in the morning and how many will return is highlighted by the question "Quantos partiram de manhã? Quem sabe quantos vão voltar?" ("How many set sail in the morning? Who knows how many will return?").

The chorus of the song, "E em cada vela que aparece/ Um canto de alegria/ De quem venceu o mar" ("And in every sail that appears/ A song of joy/ From those who conquered the sea"), captures the triumph of the sailors who have returned from the sea with their catch. The pride of their hard work is reflected in the song of joy they sing. The song celebrates the bravery and determination of Bahian sailors who face the dangers of the sea with hope and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Nem bem a noite terminou
As soon as the night ends

Vão os saveiros para o mar
The boats go to the sea

Levam no dia que amanhece
Carrying with them the same hopes

As mesmas esperanças
From the day before

Quantos partiram de manhã?
How many left in the morning?

Quem sabe quantos vão voltar?
Who knows how many will come back?

Só quando o sol descansar
Only when the sun sets

E se os ventos deixarem
And if the winds allow

Os barcos vão voltar
The boats will return

Quantas histórias pra contar
So many stories to tell

E em cada vela que aparece
And in every sail that appears