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.
Moral da história
João Bosco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O século
Temos sono e insônia
Não podemos dormir nem acordar;
De madrugada abrimos as janelas
Mas já não há céu, somente
Seu segredo:
A evidência sem provas
Moral da história
E melancolia das estrelas.
The lyrics of "Moral da história" by João Bosco offer a poetic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the elusive nature of truth. The opening lines suggest a sense of disorientation - "Mais do que a noite, viramos o século" (We turned the century more than the night) - as if the singer is struggling to come to terms with the rapid changes and uncertainties of the modern world. The image of being unable to sleep, of experiencing both insomnia and drowsiness, reinforces this sense of restlessness and unease.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the act of looking out of the window in the early hours of the morning, only to find that the sky no longer holds any secrets - "Mas já não há céu, somente seu segredo" (But there is no longer a sky, only its secret). This line seems to suggest that even the natural world, which we often look to for guidance and meaning, is no longer able to offer any certainty or comfort. The reference to "evidência sem provas" (evidence without proof) adds further layers of uncertainty and ambiguity, raising questions about the reliability of our own perceptions and the validity of what we take to be true.
Ultimately, the "moral da história" (moral of the story) that emerges from these reflections is one of sadness and resignation - "E melancolia das estrelas" (And melancholy of the stars). The song leaves us with a strong sense of the transience of human experience, and the impossibility of ever fully understanding the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Mais do que a noite, viramos o século
We have reached a new era that is just as dark and mysterious as the night
Temos sono e insônia
We struggle to sleep or rest properly
Não podemos dormir nem acordar
We are in a state of constant exhaustion and confusion
De madrugada abrimos as janelas
We try to find comfort or answers by looking outside
Mas já não há céu, somente seu segredo
But the sky seems empty and holds only its own secrets
A evidência sem provas
We see the signs but have no concrete proof
Como uma fratura exposta
It feels like an open wound or a broken bone
Moral da história
The lesson to be learned
E melancolia das estrelas
And the sadness of realizing that even the stars can't offer us solace
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.