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.
Rainha Do Mar
Dorival Caymmi Lyrics
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Minha sereia é rainha do mar
O canto dela faz admirar
O canto dela faz admirar
Minha sereia é a moça bonita
Minha sereia é a moça bonita
Nas ondas do mar aonde ela habita
Nas ondas do mar aonde ela habita
Ai, tem dó de ver o meu penar
The lyrics of Dorival Caymmi's song "Rainha Do Mar" revolve around a beautiful siren who is also the queen of the sea. The singer describes her enchanting voice that captivates everyone who listens to her. According to the singer, his siren is the most beautiful girl who lives in the waves of the sea. The singer pleads to the listeners to understand his feelings about the siren and have pity on him.
The song is a poetic representation of love and longing for someone who is unattainable. The siren, who is described as a queen of the sea, possess all the beauty and power that the sea holds. The singer sees himself as a victim of her beauty and is unable to resist the temptation of her charm. The song speaks of the singer's pain and suffering, which is caused by his unrequited love for the queen of the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Minha sereia é rainha do mar
My mermaid is the queen of the sea, she rules over the ocean with grace and beauty.
O canto dela faz admirar
Her singing voice is so enchanting that it captivates and amazes anyone who hears it.
Minha sereia é a moça bonita
My mermaid is a beautiful young woman, who lives in the waves of the sea.
Nas ondas do mar aonde ela habita
She resides in the waves of the sea, where she is free to sing her beautiful songs.
Ai, tem dó de ver o meu penar
Oh, it is pitiful to see my suffering, as I long to be with my mermaid queen in the vastness of the ocean.
Contributed by Camden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.