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.
Prisma Noir
João Bosco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Íris de fúnebre olhar vagões a vazar
Dourados no breu
Delírio meu farpas lascar
Ah, ver crepitar
Gotas de fogo no ar valsar no salão
Pés a deslizar
Corvos no altar
Círios azuis cheiro de luz
A cruz daqui
Prisma noir me faz sorrir
Quanto mais sangue
Me escorre das veias
Mais sangue eu tenho pra dar
Quanto mais torpe
O cantar das sereias
Mais cândido eu posso escutar
Voar feito pavão
Ou carcará tanto se dá
Virar mundo às avessas com lances de olhar
Só pra dizer que prazer
Hoje as nuvens
Fazem teatro no céu pra mim
The lyrics of João Bosco's song Prisma Noir evoke a sense of dark, mysterious imagery through its unique use of vivid language. The opening line, "Ah, prisma noir" refers to a black prism, which may be a metaphor for darkness, reflecting the somber mood of the song. The "íris de fúnebre olhar" or iris of a funereal look, suggests that the subject of the song is experiencing some sort of grief or anguish.
The second verse speaks of the delirium that the subject is experiencing. "Farpas lascar" suggests a sense of pain that is perhaps self-inflicted, and the imagery of "gotas de fogo no ar valsar no salão" or drops of fire dancing in the hall, is ambiguous but intensifies the overall sense of chaos and darkness.
The third verse describes a sort of surrealistic altar where "corvos no altar" or crows on the altar, add to the morbid atmosphere. The use of "círios azuis" or blue candles and "cheiro de luz" or scent of light, creates a disorienting sense of ambiguity in the description.
Overall, Prisma Noir is a poem-like song that offers much to reflect on and invites interpretation from those who listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, prisma noir
The dark prism, a symbol of distorted reality
Íris de fúnebre olhar vagões a vazar
The iris with a mournful look leaking carriages
Dourados no breu
Golden reflections in the darkness
Delírio meu farpas lascar
My delirium cutting like barbs
Ah, ver crepitar
Oh, to see the sparks flying
Gotas de fogo no ar valsar no salão
Droplets of fire waltzing in the hall
Pés a deslizar
Feet sliding
Pela ilusão de imaginar
By the illusion of imagining
Corvos no altar
Ravens on the altar
Círios azuis cheiro de luz
Blue candles smelling of light
A cruz daqui
The cross from here
Prisma noir me faz sorrir
The dark prism makes me smile
Quanto mais sangue
The more blood
Me escorre das veias
Flows from my veins
Mais sangue eu tenho pra dar
The more blood I have to give
Quanto mais torpe
The more sordid
O cantar das sereias
The singing of the sirens
Mais cândido eu posso escutar
The more candidly I can listen
Voar feito pavão
Flying like a peacock
Ou carcará tanto se dá
Or like a vulture, it matters not
Virar mundo às avessas com lances de olhar
Turn the world upside down with glances
Só pra dizer que prazer
Just to say that pleasure
Hoje as nuvens
Today the clouds
Fazem teatro no céu pra mim
Are putting on a show in the sky for me
Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.