Marinheiro Só
Helmut Lotti Lyrics


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O marinheiro Marinheiro
quem te ensinou an nadar
Foi o canto do navio
ou foi o balano do mar

O marinheiro Marinheiro
quem te ensinou an nadar
Foi o canto do navio
ou foi o balano do mar

Eu nao sou daqui
eu nao tenho amor
eu sou da Bahia
De Sao Salvador

Eu nao sou daqui
eu nao tenho amor




eu sou da Bahia
De Sao Salvador

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Helmut Lotti's Marinheiro Só speak of a sailor, asking him who taught him to swim. The sailor's ability to swim is attributed to either the singing of the ship or the motion of the sea. The lyrics suggest that the sailor is a man without a home or a lover, indicating a sense of loneliness and wanderlust. The chorus emphasizes this loneliness, as the sailor declares that he is not from where he is currently, he does not have any love, and that he is from Bahia, Sao Salvador.


The song appears to be a traditional Brazilian song, with its origins lost in time. However, the song has been performed by several artists, including Mercedes Sosa, Nana Mouskouri, and, of course, Helmut Lotti. The song's lyrics suggest that the sailor is an outsider, a wanderer with no real place to call home. Still, his connection to the sea is what gives him purpose and meaning, and it is through the sea that he finds a sense of belonging.


Overall, the lyrics of Marinheiro Só are introspective and reflective, conveying a sense of loneliness that the sailor experiences as he travels far and wide. The combination of simple yet evocative lyrics, coupled with a beautiful melody, make the song an emotional and thought-provoking ballad.


Line by Line Meaning

O marinheiro Marinheiro
Addressing the sailor and establishing the subject matter of the song


quem te ensinou an nadar
Asking who taught the sailor how to swim


Foi o canto do navio
Positing that the sailor learned from the sound of the ship


ou foi o balano do mar
Alternatively, suggesting that the sailor learned from the movement of the sea


Eu nao sou daqui
Stating that the artist is not from this place


eu nao tenho amor
Declaring that the singer does not have any love or attachment to anyone in this place


eu sou da Bahia
Revealing that the singer is from Bahia, a northeastern state in Brazil


De Sao Salvador
Being more specific, indicating that the artist comes specifically from the city of Salvador in Bahia




Contributed by Aaliyah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

verinhadomakoski

Helmut Lotti is just wonderful! Além de ser um grande cantor e intérprete, é super versátil, cantando em qualquer idioma.