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.

The Shadow of Your Smile
Dori Caymmi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The shadow of your smile
When you have gone
Will color all my dreams
And light the dawn

Look into my eyes my love and see
All the lovely things you are to me

Our wistful little star
It was far, too high
A teardrop kissed your lips
And so did I

Now when I remember spring
All the joys that love can bring

I will be remembering
The shadow of your smile

Overall Meaning

The Shadow of Your Smile is a heartfelt ballad that speaks about how the absence of a loved one can affect the person left behind. The opening line conveys the idea that the memory of the person will remain even after they are gone, and every dream will be colored by their presence. The song speaks of a nostalgia for the past, with the singer longing to relive the moments that they shared with their loved one. The line "Look into my eyes my love and see, all the lovely things you are to me" speaks of the depth of affection that the singer has for their partner.

The lyrics speak of a bittersweet moment in the past when the singer and their partner were unable to be together. The imagery of a teardrop kissing someone's lips is melancholic, symbolizing the sadness of a missed opportunity. However, it can also be seen as a tender moment of two people sharing feelings for each other. The final verse speaks of the singer's resolve to hold on to the memories of a joyful time, even if they cannot be with their love. The "shadow" of the smile is a reminder of their happiness, a poignant symbol of a love that endures.

Line by Line Meaning

The shadow of your smile
The memory of your beautiful smile and the happiness it has brought me

When you have gone
When you have left me, either physically or emotionally

Will color all my dreams
It will influence my subconscious and affect my dreams every night

And light the dawn
It will also brighten my mornings and give me hope for the new day

Look into my eyes my love and see
I want you to see the admiration and adoration I have for you in my eyes

All the lovely things you are to me
You are the embodiment of all the things I find beautiful and admirable

Our wistful little star
Our fleeting and fleeting happiness

It was far, too high
It was so perfect and unattainable

A teardrop kissed your lips
As we parted ways, I shed a tear and it seemed to have landed on your lips

And so did I
I also gave you a goodbye kiss that was accompanied by a tear

Now when I remember spring
Whenever I recall the happy times we shared together