Corcovado
Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
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Este amor, uma canção
Pra fazer feliz a quem se ama
Muita calma pra pensar
E ter tempo pra sonhar
Da janela vê-se o Corcovado
Quero a vida sempre assim com você perto de mim
Até o apagar da velha chama
E eu que era triste
Descrente deste mundo
Ao encontrar você eu conheci
O que é felicidade meu amor
O que é felicidade, o que é felicidade
These lyrics are from Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic bossa nova song "Corcovado," which translates to "hunchback" in English, named after the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer that overlooks Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The lyrics speak of a romantic setting with just a corner and a guitar, where two people in love come together to create a beautiful song that brings happiness to those they love. The singer also mentions the importance of taking the time to think and dream. The sight of the Corcovado statue from the window adds to the romantic ambiance of the song.
The lyrics then transition to the singer expressing their appreciation for their partner, stating that they want to keep this happiness forever by their side. The singer notes that before meeting the person they love, they were unhappy and distrusting of the world, but now feel genuine happiness, stating "I knew what happiness was, my love, what happiness was." The repeated question, "O que é felicidade?" (What is happiness?), invites the listener to consider the true meaning of happiness and to perhaps find it in their own lives, just as the singer has found it in their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Um cantinho e um violão
A simple place and a guitar
Este amor, uma canção
This love, a song
Pra fazer feliz a quem se ama
To make the person you love happy
Muita calma pra pensar
Plenty of serenity to think
E ter tempo pra sonhar
And have time to dream
Da janela vê-se o Corcovado
From the window you can see Corcovado
O Redentor que lindo
The Redeemer, how beautiful
Quero a vida sempre assim com você perto de mim
I always want life to be like this with you close to me
Até o apagar da velha chama
Until the old flame fades away
E eu que era triste
And I, who was sad
Descrente deste mundo
Disbelieving in this world
Ao encontrar você eu conheci
When I found you, I discovered
O que é felicidade meu amor
What happiness is, my love
O que é felicidade, o que é felicidade
What happiness is, what happiness is
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, ANTONIO CARLOS BRASILEIRO DE A JOBIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind