Fronted by lead singer and lyricist Renato Russo, Legião Urbana was founded in 1983 and existed until 1996, when Renato passed away due to complications caused by AIDS. Besides being the lead vocalist, Renato was an occasional guitar, bass and keyboards player. He also wrote most of the band's songs. In 13 years of career, they released 8 studio albums - the last being posthumous - and one live.
Legião Urbana is probably the most famous Brazilian rock bands, especially known for Renato's poetic lyrics, which range from love and spiritualism to politics, family, sex and drugs.
Nowadays, Dado Villa-Lobos (ex-guitar player of Legião Urbana) has a solo career and recorded his first album, named "Jardim De Cactus", in 2005. Drum player Marcelo Bonfá also tried a solo career.
The Last Time I Saw Richard
Legião Urbana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate
Someday, cynical and bitter and boring someone
In some dark cafe
You laugh, he said you think you're immune,
Go look at eyes
They're full of moon
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, pretty lies
He put a quarter in the wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirl
And a waitress came by a fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said: "drink up now it's getting on time to close"
Richard, you haven't really changed, I said
That's just now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You've got tombs in your in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they talk of love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet
Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dish washer and a coffe percolator
And he drinks at home now most night with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
I don't want nobody comin'over to my table
I've got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamer pass this away someday
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
Dark cafes
Only a darkness before
I get my gorgeous wings
And fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days
The lyrics to Legião Urbana's "The Last Time I Saw Richard" tell a story of a reunion between two friends, with one of them, Richard, offering some somber advice to the other. In the first verse, Richard reminisces about a past meeting in Detroit in 1968, where he informs the singer that all romantics will eventually become cynical, bitter, and boring. He prophesies that the singer will someday find herself in some dark cafe, surrounded by people spouting pretty lies. Richard tries to warn the singer that she's not immune to this fate, but the singer brushes him off.
Richard then puts a quarter in the Wurlitzer jukebox, causing it to spring to life. A waitress in fishnet stockings and a bow tie appears, urging them to drink up because it's time to close. The singer tells Richard that he seems to be romanticizing some pain that's in his head, evidenced by the tombs in his eyes and the songs he writes about love. Richard brushes this off, saying that love can be sweet, but the singer needs to get back on her feet.
In the final verse, the singer relates that Richard has since married a figure skater and bought a dishwasher and coffee percolator for their home. He drinks alone most nights, with all the house lights left bright. The singer declares that she doesn't want any company and would rather be alone, hiding behind bottles in dark cafes. She acknowledges that these lonely days are just a phase and that she'll eventually spread her wings and fly away.
Overall, the lyrics to "The Last Time I Saw Richard" are a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of becoming jaded and bored. Despite Richard's warnings, the singer can't seem to prevent herself from falling into the same trap. The song paints a picture of two friends who have grown apart due to their vastly different outlooks on life.
Line by Line Meaning
Last time I saw Richard was Detroit in 68
I last saw Richard in Detroit in 1968
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate
Richard told me that all the romantic people end up with the same destiny
Someday, cynical and bitter and boring someone
Sometime in the future, Richard believes someone will become cynical, bitter and dull
In some dark cafe
This will happen in a gloomy café
You laugh, he said you think you're immune,
Richard said mockingly that I believed I was immune to this fate
Go look at eyes
He asked me to check people's eyes
They're full of moon
He implies that people's eyes are full of deception and pretentiousness
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
He said I enjoy compliments and being flattered by men who tell me tender words
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
These delicate expressions are nothing but lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Richard asked me when I would finally realize that these words are nothing more than lies
Only pretty lies, pretty lies
Richard repeats that these expressions are only empty lies
He put a quarter in the wurlitzer, and he pushed
Then he put a coin in a jukebox and pressed some buttons
Three buttons and the thing began to whirl
Three buttons start the device spinning
And a waitress came by a fishnet stockings and a bow tie
A waitress wearing fishnet stockings and a bow tie approached us
And she said: "drink up now it's getting on time to close"
She said it was time to close and we should finish our drinks
Richard, you haven't really changed, I said
I told him that he hadn't changed
That's just now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
I suggest that he is now idealizing some pain which he imagines in his head
You've got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
I acknowledge that his eyes reveal depression, but the music he selected
You punched are dreaming
affirms that these songs are hopeful and exciting, full of dreams
Listen, they talk of love so sweet
Richard's songs speak of sweet love
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
I remind him to get back on his feet, to stop being lost
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet
I repeat what he said, that love is sweet, so sweet
Richard got married to a figure skater
I tell the story of Richard marrying a woman who was an ice skater
And he bought her a dish washer and a coffe percolator
He bought her everyday appliances like a dishwasher and a coffee maker
And he drinks at home now most night with the TV on
Richard is alone at home now, watching TV every night
And all the house lights left up bright
All the lights in his house remain lit for fear of loneliness and the dark
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
He states that he is going to die soon
I don't want nobody comin'over to my table
He doesn't want anyone to come to his funeral
I've got nothing to talk to anybody about
He implies that he has nothing to say, and therefore shouldn't have a funeral
All good dreamer pass this away someday
All good dreamers die eventually
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
People try to mask their pain in bars and cafes
Dark cafes
These dark settings are indicative of evil or dishonest behavior
Only a darkness before
This period of darkness leads to an uncertain future
I get my gorgeous wings
He anticipates getting to heaven after he dies
And fly away
In death, he becomes free from the constraints of life
Only a phase, these dark cafe days
The days spent in dark cafes, hiding from pain, are only temporary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JONI MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ivan Malanquini
A Última Vez Em Que Vi Richard
A última vez em que vi Richard foi em Detroit, em 68
E ele me disse que todos os românticos encontram o mesmo destino algum dia:
Cínicos e bêbados, chateando alguém
em algum bar escuro
“Você ri”, ele disse
” você acha que está imune...
Veja teus olhos
Estão cheios de luar!
Você gosta de rosas, beijos e homens atraentes te dizendo
Todas aquelas lindas mentiras, lindas mentiras....
Quando você vai perceber que são apenas lindas mentiras??
Apenas lindas mentiras, lindas mentiras....”
Ele colocou uma moeda na Wurlitzer, e apertou
Três botões e o negócio começou a zunir
Uma garçonete veio com meias-arrastão e uma gravata-borboleta
Dizendo "Beba logo, estamos pra fechar."
"Richard, você não mudou mesmo", eu disse
"Só que agora você romantiza alguma dor que existe na sua cabeça
Você tem túmulos nos olhos, mas suas canções
São como sonhos!
Ouça, elas cantam sobre o amor tão docemente!
Quando você vai se reerguer?
Ah, e o amor pode ser tão doce, amor tão doce....”
Richard se casou com uma patinadora artística
E comprou-lhe uma lavadora de louças e uma cafeteira
E ele bebe em casa agora, na maioria das noites, com a TV ligada
E todas as luzes da casa acesas
“Eu vou apagar esta maldita vela
Não quero ninguém vindo à minha mesa
Eu não tenho nada pra conversar com ninguém..”
Todos os bons sonhadores passam por isso algum dia
Escondendo-se atrás de garrafas em bares escuros
Bares escuros.....
Apenas um casulo escuro
Antes que eu consiga minhas lindas asas
E voe para longe
Apenas uma fase, estes dias de bares escuros...
Ayēhfel
Ajudando na tradução
A linha "pretty lies", por contexto, quer dizer "meras mentiras" ou "apenas mentiras", caso repetida diversas vezes.
Ex.:
(En) "Dude, this is so f*cking pretty lies, man."
(Pt) "Pô, só mentiras isso aí, cara."
Ou:
(En) "(are) You sure about that?"
(Pt) "Tem certeza?"
(En) "Yeah! Pretty sure!"
(Pt) "Sim! Certeza absoluta!"
Percebe? Não precisamos traduzir as palavras separadamente. A tradução literal não é a forma exata como um falante do Inglês fala. Do contrário, ficaria: "Sim! Linda claro!". Tipo, não faz sentido. Necessita de contexto.
Vale lembrar que a lógica do Inglês é diferente da do Português. Algumas palavras em Inglês JUNTAS numa só frase não precisam NECESSARIAMENTE serem traduzidas separadamente, muitas se fundem e formam uma única palavra em Português ou em um contexto, como é o caso da nossa palavra "saudade" que não é traduzível para o Inglês, que precisa de um contexto em INGLÊS para poder saber do que se trata.
Carlos Rodrigo
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68, And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and bitter and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh, he says you think you're immune, go look at your eyes
They're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, pretty lies
He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a waitress came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said "Drink up now it's gettin' on time to close." "Richard, you haven't really changed," I said It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they talk of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get back on your feet? Love can be so sweet, love so sweet Richard got married to a figure skater And he bought her a dishwasher and a Coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright I'm gonna blow this damn candle out I don't want nobody comin' over to my table I got nothing to talk to anybody about All good dreamers pass this way some day Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes Dark cafes
Only this darkness
Before I get my gorgeous wings
And I fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days
Marcio Vasconcellos
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68,
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh, he says you think you're immune, go look at your eyes
They're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realise they're only pretty lies
Just pretty lies, just pretty lies
He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said "Drink up now it's gettin' on time to close."
"Richard, you haven't really changed," I said
It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, so sweet
Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a Coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
I don't want nobody comin' over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
Dark cafes
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings
And I fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days
I only found covers of this amazing song on YouTube, and some of them are really good. But as it means so much to me I thought I'd share the original version.
No copyright infringement intended of course. Besides, I might be wrong but I bet Joni herself wouldn't mind me publishing this anyway.
turkmusik
The Last Time I Saw Richard
by Joni Mitchell
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68,
And he told me, “All romantics meet the same fate someday,
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe.
You laugh,” he said, “You think you're immune—go look at your eyes,
They're full of moon.
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies.
When you gonna realise they're only pretty lies?
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies.”
He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whir
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie,
And she said, "Drink up now it's gettin' on time to close.”
"Richard, you haven't really changed," I said.
“It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head.
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming—
Listen: they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet.
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, so sweet.”
Richard got married to a figure skater,
And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator,
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on,
And all the house lights left up bright.
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out,
I don't want nobody coming over to my table,
I got nothing to talk to anybody about.
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hiding behind bottles in dark cafes, dark cafes.
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings
And I fly away.
Only a phase, these dark cafe days.
Steffany Mendes
Janeiro de 2021. Já perdi às contas de quantas vezes já ouvi essa versão somente nesse início de ano. A perfeição de Renato cantando em inglês, é um recital de poemas para meus ouvidos.
Carlos Eduardo Bugaisk
Toda vez que tomo um pileque tenho que escutar essa música.
Renato foi único !
Pablo Carvalho
Nao mais perfeito q seu sorriso rs
Rodrigo Joel
Maior banda brasileira de todos os tempos
Rodrigo Andrade
Com certeza meu amigo
Ivan Malanquini
A Última Vez Em Que Vi Richard
A última vez em que vi Richard foi em Detroit, em 68
E ele me disse que todos os românticos encontram o mesmo destino algum dia:
Cínicos e bêbados, chateando alguém
em algum bar escuro
“Você ri”, ele disse
” você acha que está imune...
Veja teus olhos
Estão cheios de luar!
Você gosta de rosas, beijos e homens atraentes te dizendo
Todas aquelas lindas mentiras, lindas mentiras....
Quando você vai perceber que são apenas lindas mentiras??
Apenas lindas mentiras, lindas mentiras....”
Ele colocou uma moeda na Wurlitzer, e apertou
Três botões e o negócio começou a zunir
Uma garçonete veio com meias-arrastão e uma gravata-borboleta
Dizendo "Beba logo, estamos pra fechar."
"Richard, você não mudou mesmo", eu disse
"Só que agora você romantiza alguma dor que existe na sua cabeça
Você tem túmulos nos olhos, mas suas canções
São como sonhos!
Ouça, elas cantam sobre o amor tão docemente!
Quando você vai se reerguer?
Ah, e o amor pode ser tão doce, amor tão doce....”
Richard se casou com uma patinadora artística
E comprou-lhe uma lavadora de louças e uma cafeteira
E ele bebe em casa agora, na maioria das noites, com a TV ligada
E todas as luzes da casa acesas
“Eu vou apagar esta maldita vela
Não quero ninguém vindo à minha mesa
Eu não tenho nada pra conversar com ninguém..”
Todos os bons sonhadores passam por isso algum dia
Escondendo-se atrás de garrafas em bares escuros
Bares escuros.....
Apenas um casulo escuro
Antes que eu consiga minhas lindas asas
E voe para longe
Apenas uma fase, estes dias de bares escuros...
Cristian Vaz
Não estraga a música
Alkis05
@Flávio Souza Hum, faz sentido, já que ele também comprou a maquina de lavar loça e a cafeteira.
"Bem, vamo na cafeteria?"
"Pra que, querida. Tem cafeteria em casa."
Cafeteria em casa: Café coado, assistindo faustão e você é a garçonete.
Ayēhfel
Ajudando na tradução
A linha "pretty lies", por contexto, quer dizer "meras mentiras" ou "apenas mentiras", caso repetida diversas vezes.
Ex.:
(En) "Dude, this is so f*cking pretty lies, man."
(Pt) "Pô, só mentiras isso aí, cara."
Ou:
(En) "(are) You sure about that?"
(Pt) "Tem certeza?"
(En) "Yeah! Pretty sure!"
(Pt) "Sim! Certeza absoluta!"
Percebe? Não precisamos traduzir as palavras separadamente. A tradução literal não é a forma exata como um falante do Inglês fala. Do contrário, ficaria: "Sim! Linda claro!". Tipo, não faz sentido. Necessita de contexto.
Vale lembrar que a lógica do Inglês é diferente da do Português. Algumas palavras em Inglês JUNTAS numa só frase não precisam NECESSARIAMENTE serem traduzidas separadamente, muitas se fundem e formam uma única palavra em Português ou em um contexto, como é o caso da nossa palavra "saudade" que não é traduzível para o Inglês, que precisa de um contexto em INGLÊS para poder saber do que se trata.
Flávio Souza
Richard got married to a figure skater: nesse contexto Figure skater eh garconete de patins, daquelas lanchonetes americanas dos anos 50 e 60.