They collaborated together again on the single "Baby", released in 1968.
Quem Me Dera
Gal Costa & Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu não vou mais voltar
Se Deus quiser, vou mandar te buscar
De madrugada, quando o sol cair dend'água
Vou mandar te buscar
Ai, quem me dera
Voltar, quem me dera um dia
Bahia no coração
Ai, quem me dera o dia
Voltar, quem me dera o dia
De ter de novo a Bahia
Todinha no coração
Ai, água clara que não tem fim
Não há outra canção em mim
Que saudade!
Ai, quem me dera
Mas quem me dera a alegria
De ter de novo a Bahia
E nela o amor que eu quis
Ai, quem me dera
Meu bem, quem me dera o dia
De ter você na Bahia
O mar e o amor feliz
Adeus, meu bem
Eu não vou mais voltar
Se Deus quiser, vou mandar te buscar
Na lua cheia
Quando é tão branca a areia
Vou mandar te buscar
The song 'Quem Me Dera' by Gal Costa is an emotional and heartfelt expression of longing for the state of Bahia in Brazil. The lyrics depict a farewell to a loved one, with the singer stating that she will not be returning, but instead will send for her loved one to join her in Bahia. The use of the phrase "Se Deus quiser" (If God wills it) suggests a sense of fate and acceptance of what is meant to be.
The singer then proceeds to express her deep desire to return to Bahia, and the nostalgia that she feels for the place. The repetition of the phrase "Ai, quem me dera" (Oh, if only) emphasizes the longing and the sadness that the singer feels, as she laments not having the happiness and joy that she associates with Bahia in her heart. The clear water that "has no end" is a metaphor for the endless longing that she feels for Bahia, and the place that she associates with love and happiness.
Overall, the song is a poignant expression of the singer's deep emotional attachment to Bahia, and the yearning to find joy and love in the place that she holds so dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Adeus, meu bem
Goodbye, my love
Eu não vou mais voltar
I'm not going back anymore
Se Deus quiser, vou mandar te buscar
If God wants, I'll send for you
De madrugada, quando o sol cair dend'água
In the early morning, when the sun falls into the water
Vou mandar te buscar
I'll send for you
Ai, quem me dera
Oh, if only I could
Voltar, quem me dera um dia
Go back, if only one day
Meu Deus, não tenho alegria
My God, I have no joy
Bahia no coração
Bahia in my heart
Ai, quem me dera o dia
Oh, if only I could have the day
De ter de novo a Bahia
To have Bahia again
Todinha no coração
All of it in my heart
Ai, água clara que não tem fim
Oh, clear water that has no end
Não há outra canção em mim
There's no other song in me
Que saudade!
How I miss it!
Mas quem me dera a alegria
But if only I had the joy
E nela o amor que eu quis
And in it, the love I wanted
Meu bem, quem me dera o dia
My love, if only I had the day
De ter você na Bahia
To have you in Bahia
O mar e o amor feliz
The sea and happy love
Na lua cheia
On the full moon
Quando é tão branca a areia
When the sand is so white
Vou mandar te buscar
I'll send for you
Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.