Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), better known as Herbie… Read Full Bio ↴Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), better known as Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flautist who had an interest in traditional music of other cultures.

Herbie Mann was born in Brooklyn, New York. Early in his career, he played saxophone and clarinet, but Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute and was perhaps jazz music's preminent flautist during the 1960s.

Mann was quite prolific and performed often. His first gig was playing in the Catskills at age 15. His last, on May 3, 2003 was at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at age 73. Herbie Mann died at age 73 on July 1, 2003 of prostate cancer.

Desafinado
Herbie Mann Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Se você disser que eu desafino, amor
Saiba que isso em mim provoca imensa dor
Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu
Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu

Se você insisted em classificar
meu comportamento de antimusical
Eu mesmo mentindo Devo argumentar

Que isto é bossa nova Que isto é muito natural

O que você não sabe nem sequer pressente
é que os desafinados também têm um coração

Fotografei você na minha Rolleyflex
Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão
Só não poderá falar assim do meu amor
Este é o maior que você pode encontrar

Você com a sua música esqueceu o principal
é que no peito dos desafinados
No fundo do peito bate calado

Que no peito dos desafinados
também bate um coração

Overall Meaning

The song "Desafinado" by Herbie Mann is a classic bossa nova track that explores the pain of being judged and misunderstood for not having perfect pitch. The lyrics start with a confession from the singer, admitting that it hurts him deeply to be criticized for singing out of tune. He goes on to explain that only a select few have the perfect hearing that the critic seems to possess; he, on the other hand, can only rely on the vocals he was blessed with from God.

The singer then tries to reason with the critic, telling them that his style of singing is simply bossa nova and that it's a natural way of expression. He adds that the critic doesn't know and can't even begin to imagine the pain of being judged for a talent one was not given. In the second verse, the singer talks about a lover who has been unfaithful and ungrateful, but even so, he cannot deny the love he has for her. He says that even though she may criticize his singing, his love for her remains the greatest thing he has ever found. Finally, the singer ends on a poignant note, emphasizing that the hearts of the off-key singers beat just as passionately as those of the most skilled musicians.

Overall, "Desafinado" is a heartfelt and moving tribute to the artistic expression of the off-key singers that beautifully captures the pain of being misunderstood and judged.

Line by Line Meaning

Se você disser que eu desafino, amor
If you tell me that I sing off-key, my love

Saiba que isso em mim provoca imensa dor
Know that it causes me immense pain

Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu
Only privileged ones have an ear as good as yours

Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu
I only possess what God gave me

Se você insiste em classificar
If you insist on classifying me

meu comportamento de antimusical
my behavior as anti-musical

Eu mesmo mentindo devo argumentar
I, even lying, must argue

Que isto é bossa nova que isto é muito natural
That this is bossa nova, that this is very natural

O que você não sabe nem sequer pressente
What you don't know or even suspect

é que os desafinados também têm um coração
Is that the off-key singers also have a heart

Fotografei você na minha Rolleyflex
I photographed you with my Rolleyflex camera