Although his songs celebrate the people of Bahia and he himself is enshrined in the popular Brazilian imagination as the archetypal Bahian, he moved to Rio de Janeiro to find fame in the 1930's and never moved back to Bahia.
He became a contemporary and sometimes rival of composer Ary Barroso and enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Bahian author Jorge Amado. Dorival Caymmi first achieved success in the late 1930s with Carmen Miranda, for whom he composed 'O Que é Que a Baiana Tem?'. He recorded for five decades, both singing solo with his own guitar accompaniment, and backed by bands and orchestras. In the 1960s many of his songs were covered by bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto, and he collaborated with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Among the many musicians heavily influenced by Dorival Caymmi are Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Dorival Caymmi passed away at age 94 on August 16, 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, of multiple organ failure. He is survived by three children, all of whom are in the prominent musicians: Nana, Danilo and Dori Caymmi.
Itapoã
Dorival Caymmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Areia de Itapoã, areia
Morena de Itapoã, morena
Saudade de Itapoã, me deixa
Oh vento que faz cantiga nas folhas
No alto do coqueiral
Oh vento que ondula as águas
Me traga boas notícias
Daquela terra toda manhã
E joga uma flor no colo
De uma morena de Itapoã
Coqueiro de Itapoã, coqueiro
Areia de Itapoã, areia
Morena de Itapoã, morena
Saudade de Itapoã, me deixa
Oh vento que faz cantiga nas folhas
No alto do coqueiral
Oh vento que ondula as águas
Eu nunca tive saudade igual
Me traga boas notícias
Daquela terra toda manhã
me joga uma flor no colo
De uma morena de Itapoã
Coqueiro de Itapoã, coqueiro
Areia de Itapoã, areia
Morena de Itapoã, morena
Saudade de Itapoã, me deixa
Me deixa
Me deixa
The lyrics of Dorival Caymmi's song "Coqueiro De Itapoã" express a profound longing and nostalgia for Itapoã, a neighborhood in Salvador, Brazil. The song pays homage to the natural elements that characterize the place: the coconut tree ("coqueiro"), the sand ("areia"), and the beautiful brown-skinned woman ("morena"). The singer pleads for the "saudade" (a Portuguese word that encompasses a deep emotional longing) of Itapoã to leave him, suggesting that the memories and emotions associated with this place are overwhelming.
The wind becomes an important symbol in the song, creating a melody in the leaves of the coconut tree and gently stirring the waters. The wind serves as a messenger, carrying good news from Itapoã every morning. The singer asks the wind to bring him these news, craving a connection with the land and its people. The last verse implies a desire to offer a flower to a brown-skinned woman from Itapoã, as a symbol of affection and longing.
Overall, "Coqueiro De Itapoã" captures the deep sentimentality and yearning for a beloved place, and the desire to be connected to its essence and people, even when far away.
Line by Line Meaning
Coqueiro de Itapoã, coqueiro
Palm tree of Itapoã, palm tree
Areia de Itapoã, areia
Sand of Itapoã, sand
Morena de Itapoã, morena
Brunette from Itapoã, brunette
Saudade de Itapoã, me deixa
Longing for Itapoã, leave me
Oh vento que faz cantiga nas folhas
Oh wind that sings in the leaves
No alto do coqueiral
At the top of the coconut grove
Oh vento que ondula as águas
Oh wind that ripples the waters
Eu nunca tive saudade igual
I have never felt such longing
Me traga boas notícias
Bring me good news
Daquela terra toda manhã
From that land every morning
E joga uma flor no colo
And throws a flower in the lap
De uma morena de Itapoã
Of a brunette from Itapoã
Me deixa
Leave me
Lyrics © IRMAOS VITALE S/A INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO
Written by: Dorival Caymmi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@olizetetavares9147
Que saudade
De Dorival e rios das ostras.
@leonardonobre1392
Maravilha!