The youngest of the five children of José Fares, Lebanese immigrant to Brazil, and Dona Francisca, Fagner was born in Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceará, although his birth was recorded in Orós.
At the age of five years he won a youth competition at a local radio station. As a teen, he formed vocal and instrumental groups and began to compose his own music. In 1968 he won the Festival de Música Popular do Ceará (Popular Music Festival of Ceará) with his song "Nada Sou" (I am Nothing).
In 1971 he moved to the capital Brasília, taking first place in the Festival de Música Popular do Centro de Estudos Universitários de Brasília (Popular Music Festival of the University Studies Center of Brasília) with his piece "Mucuripe" (with collaborator Belchior), which was later recorded by artist Elis Regina, and became Fagner's first notable success as a composer. He won prizes in other categories with additional pieces, as well.
He has had a distinguished career as a performer, singer, songwriter and composer for over 3 decades, and is also known for his collaborations with other MPB artists such as Caetano Veloso, Roberta Miranda, Chico Buarque and others.
Paralelas
Fagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Só tens agora os carinhos do motor
E no escritório em que eu trabalho e fico rico
Quanto mais eu multiplico diminui o meu amor
Em cada luz de mercúrio vejo a luz do teu olhar
Passas praças, viadutos, nem te lembras de voltar
De voltar, de voltar
No Corcovado quem abre os braços sou eu
E as borboletas no que fui pousam demais
Por entre as flores do asfalto em que tu vais
E as paralelas dos pneus n'água das ruas
São duas estradas nuas em que foges do que é teu
No apartamento, oitavo andar, abro a vidraça e grito
E grito quando o carro passa
Teu infinito sou eu
Sou eu, sou eu, sou eu
No Corcovado quem abre os braços sou eu
Copacabana esta semana o mar sou eu
Como é perversa a juventude do meu coração
Que só entende o que é cruel e o que é paixão
E as paralelas dos pneus n'água das ruas
São duas estradas nuas em que foges do que é teu
No apartamento, oitavo andar, abro a vidraça e
Grito quando o carro passa
Teu infinito sou eu
Sou eu, sou eu
No Corcovado quem abre os braços sou eu
Copacabana esta semana o mar sou eu
Como é perversa a juventude do meu coração
Que só entende o que é cruel e o que é paixão
The lyrics of Fagner's song, "Paralelas," convey a sense of longing and unrequited love as the singer watches their loved one speed away. The first verse paints a picture of the singer and their love in a car racing down the road, but the only thing the singer can feel is the motor's affection. Meanwhile, the singer is at work trying to make more money, but with each financial gain, their love dwindles. The singer sees their love's light in everything, but their love just keeps driving away without looking back.
The chorus brings a change in perspective, as the singer claims to be the one opening their arms at Corcovado and embodying the sea in Copacabana. The bridge talks about the cruel and passionate nature of youth and love, leading back into the last verse. Here the singer again sees their love driving away, and they're standing in their apartment shouting out the window, proclaiming that they are their loved one's infinite. The song ends on the repetition of the chorus and the line, "sou eu," meaning "it's me," expressing the singer's desire to be their love's everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Dentro do carro, sobre o trevo a cem por hora, oh meu amor
Riding inside the car, on the highway at 100 kilometers per hour, my love, you only have the affection of the motor now.
E no escritório em que eu trabalho e fico rico, quanto mais eu multiplico diminui o meu amor
While working in the office and getting rich, the more I multiply money, the less I feel love.
Em cada luz de mercúrio vejo a luz do teu olhar
With every mercury light, I see the light of your gaze.
Passas praças, viadutos, nem te lembras de voltar
You pass by squares, overpasses, and don't even remember to come back.
No Corcovado quem abre os braços sou eu
At Corcovado, it is me who spreads my arms open wide.
Copacabana esta semana o mar sou eu
This week, I am the sea at Copacabana.
E as borboletas no que fui pousam demais
And the butterflies that once landed on me, now land on you too much.
E as paralelas dos pneus n'água das ruas, são duas estradas nuas em que foges do que é teu
And the parallel lines made by the tires on the street-water make two naked roads where you run away from what is yours.
No apartamento, oitavo andar, abro a vidraça e grito
On the eighth floor of the apartment, I open the window and scream.
Teu infinito sou eu
I am your infinity.
Como é perversa a juventude do meu coração, que só entende o que é cruel e o que é paixão
How perverse is the youth in my heart that only understands what is cruel and what is passion.
Sou eu, sou eu, sou eu
It's me, it's me, it's me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Antonio Belchior
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind