Lenine specially enjoyed listening to rock all through his teens, until he discovered the album "Clube da Esquina", by Milton Nascimento, and saw Gilberto Gil performing. At the age of 18 he moved to Rio de Janeiro to compete in a music festival.
Lenine has composed for such Brazilian stars as Gilberto Gil, Daude and Sergio Mendes. In 2005 he was the top winner of Brazil's TIM Awards, sweeping the categories of Best CD, Best Male Vocalist, Best Male Vocalist (Popular Vote) and Best Song. He has also received two Latin Grammy Awards in 2005 for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album and Best Brazilian Song.
In 1982, Lenine released his first LP, "Baque Solto", with partner Lula Queiroga. The second record, "Olho de Peixe", came out ten years later, though, this time with percussionist Marcos Suzano. The album ensured his importance among Brazilian musicians who promoted the genre in the 90's by merging it with pop music. Lenine's first solo record, "O Dia em que Faremos Contato", came out in 1997, featuring a pop structure for his mix of electronica, northeastern rhythms and samba. Two years later, he released "Na Pressão". In 2001, "Falange Canibal" was released and had a special guest, the American group Living Color with the music "O Homem dos Olhos de Raios-X". His album "In Cité" (2004), a reference to the preposition "in" plus the word "city" in French, was recorded at the auditorium of the "Cité de La Music" in Paris. Lenine's last album "Acústico MTV" had been released recently (2006) and brought special guests as Igor Cavalera (Sepultura, one of the most famous worldwide rock Brazilian band), Richard Bona (from Cameroun, Africa), Victor Astorga (Chile), Julieta Venegas (Mexican-Grammy-nomineed and special featuring in the "Amores Perros"' soundtrack). Also in 2006, Lenine released his U.S. debut disc "Lenine [Enhanced]".
Lenine's official MySpace is www.myspace.com/lenineacustico and his website is at www.lenine.com.br
A Ponte
Lenine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Como é que faz pra lavar a roupa?
Vai na fonte, vai na fonte
Como é que faz pra raiar o dia?
No horizonte, no horizonte
Este lugar é uma maravilha
Mas como é que faz pra sair da ilha?
A ponte não é de concreto, não é de ferro
Não é de cimento
A ponte é até onde vai o meu pensamento
A ponte não é para ir nem pra voltar
A ponte é somente pra atravessar
Caminhar sobre as águas desse momento
A ponte nem tem que sair do lugar
Aponte pra onde quiser
A ponte é o abraço do braço do mar
Com a mão da maré
A ponte não é para ir nem pra voltar
A ponte é somente pra atravessar
Caminhar sobre as águas desse momento
Nagô, nagô, na Golden Gate
Entreguei-te
Meu peito jorrando meu leite
Mas no retrato-postal fiz um bilhete
No primeiro avião mandei-te
Coração dilacerado
De lá pra cá sem pernoite
De passaporte rasgado
Sem ter nada que me ajeite
Coqueiros varam varandas no Empire State
Aceite
Minha canção hemisférica
A minha voz na voz da América
Cantei-te
Amei-te
The lyrics to Lenine's song "A Ponte" are introspective and philosophical, as the singer contemplates how to solve everyday problems like washing laundry and starting a new day. The opening lines of “Como é que faz pra lavar a roupa? Vai na fonte, vai na fonte / Como é que faz pra raiar o dia? No horizonte, no horizonte” capture the singer's questioning nature before finding a solution in the refrain of "pela ponte, pela ponte". The bridge serves as a metaphor for a connection to something beyond physicality, as the singer muses that the bridge is not made of concrete, iron or cement but rather "até onde vai o meu pensamento". The lyrics ultimately posit that the bridge isn’t just a means to cross a body of water, but a symbolic invitation to consider the limitless possibilities of life and self-discovery.
The second verse points out that the bridge serves not only for traversing from one point to another, but also to represent the unification of seemingly disparate, yet complementary forces such as the arm of the sea hugging and being shaped by the tide, reflecting the singer's belief in the beauty of diversity and symbiosis in the world. The song contains hints of nostalgia with the mention of "Nagô, nagô, na Golden Gate" which evokes the image of the Golden Gate bridge, as well as references to love, heartbreak and longing with the lines “Entreguei-te / Meu peito jorrando meu leite / Mas no retrato-postal fiz um bilhete / No primeiro avião mandei-te / Coração dilacerado / De lá pra cá sem pernoite”. The lyrics of “A Ponte” convey a sense of wide-eyed wonder and wanderlust, paint vivid images of past moments and serve as a reminder to cherish and explore the world beyond one’s immediate surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
Como é que faz pra lavar a roupa?
How do you wash clothes in this place?
Vai na fonte, vai na fonte
Go to the source of water and wash clothes there.
Como é que faz pra raiar o dia?
How do you make the day start?
No horizonte, no horizonte
The day starts with the sun rising on the horizon.
Este lugar é uma maravilha
This place is fantastic.
Mas como é que faz pra sair da ilha?
But how can we leave this island?
Pela ponte, pela ponte
We can leave through the bridge.
A ponte não é de concreto, não é de ferro
The bridge is not made of concrete or iron.
Não é de cimento
It is not made of cement.
A ponte é até onde vai o meu pensamento
The bridge is as far as my mind can imagine.
A ponte não é para ir nem pra voltar
The bridge is not meant for going or coming back.
A ponte é somente pra atravessar
The bridge is only meant for crossing.
Caminhar sobre as águas desse momento
To walk on the waters of this moment.
A ponte nem tem que sair do lugar
The bridge doesn't have to move from its position.
Aponte pra onde quiser
Point in whichever direction you want.
A ponte é o abraço do braço do mar
The bridge is the embrace of the sea's arm.
Com a mão da maré
With the hand of the tide.
Nagô, nagô, na Golden Gate
Nagô, nagô, at the Golden Gate.
Entreguei-te
I gave myself to you.
Meu peito jorrando meu leite
My heart spilling my milk, my love.
Mas no retrato-postal fiz um bilhete
But in the postcard picture, I wrote a note.
No primeiro avião mandei-te
I sent you on the first plane.
Coração dilacerado
Heart torn apart.
De lá pra cá sem pernoite
From there to here, with no stopovers.
De passaporte rasgado
With a torn passport.
Sem ter nada que me ajeite
Without anything that would suit me.
Coqueiros varam varandas no Empire State
Palms trees reach balconies in the Empire State.
Aceite
Accept it.
Minha canção hemisférica
My hemispheric song.
A minha voz na voz da América
My voice within the voice of America.
Cantei-te
I sang to you.
Amei-te
I loved you.
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.