Born on July 13, 1946, in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, João Bosco's profession was engineering when he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where his songs were also recorded by Elis Regina and were a success. He soon became admired as a versatile vocalist and a dynamic performer. João Bosco has been noted for "his singular fusion of Arab culture, Afro-American music and Brazilian styles bossa nova," influenced by American jazz.
Arpoadora
João Bosco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pra ter você
Meu peito arpoado
Nado à procura
De um barco
E você não está
Do meu lado
Tá certo que errei
Sei que te feri
Mas me desculpei
Mil perdões, eu pedi
Saindo do mar
Morena sereia
O teu balançar
Cantarolou pra mim
Procuro você no baixo
É a alta estação, não acho
Nem mesmo açaí
Pra refrescar o amor por ti
Tem dó
De mim
Eu sei de cor tudo o que é seu
Te decorei poema meu
Vou recitar que é pra trazer
Você aqui
Qual o odor
Do teu corpo de jasmim
Qual o sabor do teu beijo
De anis que faz você
Lembra de nós volta pra mim
Tem dó
De mim
In João Bosco's song Arpoadora, the lyrics express the sorrowful longing of the singer for their lost love. The first verse poses a question: "What did I do to deserve you, with a harpooned chest?" The metaphor of the harpooned chest suggests the singer's deep emotional pain from the loss of their love. The second verse describes the effort the singer has put into finding their love, searching for a boat while swimming in the sea. However, they are exhausted and discouraged by the realization that their lover is not there to support and comfort them. The chorus repeats the plea for mercy: "Have mercy on me."
The third verse reveals that the singer has acknowledged their mistakes and apologized for any wrongs they may have done to their lover. Despite this, their lover is still absent. The following lines describe the appearance of a mermaid, whose singing and swaying motions capture the singer's attention. The final verse reveals the singer's fruitless search for their lover in various locations, and their continued pleading for mercy.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of desperation and sadness about the loss of love. The image of the harpooned chest is particularly powerful, suggesting that the singer's pain is both deep and violent. The repeated refrain of "Have mercy on me" highlights the singer's feelings of helplessness and vulnerability in the face of the loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Que mal eu fiz
What did I do wrong?
Pra ter você
To have you
Meu peito arpoado
My heart is harpooned
Nado à procura
I swim in search
De um barco
For a boat
E você não está
And you're not there
Do meu lado
By my side
(Já me sinto cansado)
(I already feel tired)
Tá certo que errei
It's true that I was wrong
Sei que te feri
I know I hurt you
Mas me desculpei
But I apologized
Mil perdões, eu pedi
I asked for a thousand pardons
Saindo do mar
Coming out of the sea
Morena sereia
Brown mermaid
O teu balançar
Your sway
Cantarolou pra mim
Sang to me
Procuro você no baixo
I look for you in the low
É a alta estação, não acho
It's high season, I can't find you
Nem mesmo açaí
Not even acai
Pra refrescar o amor por ti
To refresh my love for you
Tem dó
Have mercy
De mim
On me
Eu sei de cor tudo o que é seu
I know by heart everything that is yours
Te decorei poema meu
I memorized my poem for you
Vou recitar que é pra trazer
I'll recite it to bring
Você aqui
You here
Qual o odor
What's the scent
Do teu corpo de jasmim
Of your jasmine-scented body
Qual o sabor do teu beijo
What's the taste of your kiss
De anis que faz você
Of anise that makes you
Lembra de nós volta pra mim
Remember us, come back to me
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexandrebarreto2866
Sou louco por essa canção
@karolynagomes5805
Linda