Por Toda A Minha Vida
Elis Regina - Tom Jobim Lyrics

The song "Por Toda A Minha Vida" (For My Whole Life) by Elis Regina and Tom Jobim is a masterpiece of Brazilian popular music. The love ballad is about making a promise to the loved one and proclaiming the depth of love that will last forever. The first verse "Oh, meu bem amado, quero fazer de um juramento uma canção" (Oh, my beloved, I want to make a promise a song) establishes the intent to commemorate the commitment in a musical form that will resonate for an eternity. The rest of the song elaborates the vow of dedicating one's life to the partner and loving them like no one ever did. The hyperbolic statement in the line "Ninguém jamais amou ninguém" (No one ever loved anyone) expresses the infinite extent of the devotion and the exclusivity of the bond between the two.

The second verse begins with the endearing address "Oh, meu bem amado, Estrela pura aparecida" (Oh, my beloved, Pure appearing star) that underscores the unique and celestial quality of the loved one. The repetition of "Meu amor" (My love) intensifies the emotional charge of the statement "O meu amor, o meu amor, maior que tudo quanto existe" (My love, my love, greater than everything that exists). The song ends with a dreamy wish "Oh, meu amor, como eu queria agora estar contigo" (Oh, my love, how I wish to be with you now) that expresses the desire for the fulfillment of the promise and the consummation of the love.