The empathy with the musical instruments started with the guitar. It was with the guitar that she realised were the chords of her parent’s music come from. From The Beatles and from many others. And it was on an early age that she gave herself to the unique melodies that the jazz immortalized. The capacity of a melody to stand by itself, without the instruments. She embraced such artists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzerald, Chet Baker, and many others and with them in her heart she set off to the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, USA, to study music. In her 4 year stay in Boston she was nominated for the «Best Jazz Song» at the Malibu Music Awards (2008); «Best Jazz Artist» at the Hollywood Music Awards ; «International Songwriting Competition» (2007) and «The John Lennon Songwriting Competition» (2008).
More than being nominated or completing her studies, Luísa was also discovering herself every year that went by. Her musical identity would further develop in New York, where she moved after finish her degree in Boston (2009). In her bags a lot of what would eventually give shape to songs that where already wandering inside her head. Hers and her mother’s who confessed to her she had dreamed that her first album would be called «The Cherry on My Cake». Maternal magic that made a dream come true.
The learning of the jazz standards, the practice done by playing a Brazilian music in bars and the stamina of her creativity all filtered into songs that would either gain live in paper or in chords. One after another. Well thought melodies with images inside. «I Would Love To», «Don`t Let Me Down», «Why Should I», among other songs that came together in an EP («My Funny Clementine»). The emphasis on the starting theme was obvious: «Not There Yet». A triple time rhythm, like a jazz waltz, colorful, an imposing chorus and violins in heaven. The record composition wasn’t to become limited to the English language. Between trips to and from Portugal, Luisa performed at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Stock 2009. At this gig she mentions how much she would like to have a song in Portuguese. Upon her return to the States Luisa sketches a poem and melody for “O Engraxador” (the shoe shine man). That is followed by “Xico and Dolores”. For the upcoming record the will for a Portuguese cover song was still very much present. Nobody would be better to fill this part than Rui Veloso, artist that Luisa’s father listens to insistently. Luisa registers Carlos Te’s lyric and tries a different version of “Saiu para a Rua”.
«The Cherry on my Cake» is the result of all of this: of the person who dreams to live in Paris - totally inspired by French cinema. Result of the hectic New York vibe, of the familiar affection for Lisbon. From Regina Spektor to Elis Regina. From Billie Holiday to Bjork. From the 50’s to ingenuousness. From sound to image. From voice and talent: “I have a good life” she concludes.
Para ti
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas o que eu cá dentro sinto
Já é maior que o mundo
E quando à noite te sentires sozinho
Eu pego na guitarra e canto baixinho
Vou-te encher de beijos assim que te vir
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos ver-te adormecer
Quero tanto te conhecer
Meu amor não prometo perfeição
Farei o que sentir o que disser o coração
Se mesmo assim pensares que errei
Um dia verás que foi p'ra teu bem
Vou-te encher de beijos assim que te vir
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos ver-te adormecer
Quero tanto te conhecer
Se olhares p'ra mim
Como olho p'ra a minha mãe
Saberei no fim, que acertei
Bem mais que errei
Vou-te encher de beijos assim que te vir
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos agora que te conheci
Quero tanto cuidar de ti
The lyrics of Luísa Sobral's song "Para ti" express the deep and overwhelming love that a parent feels for their child. The singer starts by acknowledging the small size of their love, represented by the child still being young, but emphasizes that the feelings inside them are already immense, surpassing the size of the world itself. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, establishing the profound connection and bond between the parent and child.
The lyrics then describe a comforting gesture the singer offers to the child when they feel lonely at night - picking up the guitar and singing softly. This image conveys a sense of warmth, security, and love, showing the parent's willingness to soothe and protect their child in moments of vulnerability. The act of singing and holding the child closely symbolizes the love and care that the parent wants to provide, creating a sense of intimacy and closeness.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses their desire to shower the child with kisses, hold them in their arms, and watch them fall asleep. These actions reflect the parent's yearning to intimately connect with their child, to cherish and nurture them, and to witness their growth and development. The repetition of the phrase "Quero tanto te conhecer" (I want to get to know you so much) emphasizes the parent's eagerness to understand and support their child in every way possible.
The final verses of the song convey the singer's willingness to make mistakes and learn from them, guided by their heart and intuition in parenting. The reference to looking at the child the way the singer looks at their own mother suggests a sense of deep love, respect, and admiration, highlighting the circle of life and the continuity of love across generations. The closing lines reaffirm the parent's commitment to showering the child with love, care, and protection, underscoring the profound bond and unconditional love between parent and child.
Line by Line Meaning
Meu amor ainda és tão pequenino
My love, you are still so small
Mas o que eu cá dentro sinto
But what I feel inside me
Já é maior que o mundo
Is already bigger than the world
E quando à noite te sentires sozinho
And when at night you feel lonely
Eu pego na guitarra e canto baixinho
I pick up the guitar and sing softly
Vou-te encher de beijos assim que te vir
I'll cover you in kisses as soon as I see you
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
I'll have you in my arms
De lá não vais sair
And you won't leave from there
Vou-te encher de beijos ver-te adormecer
I'll cover you in kisses as I watch you fall asleep
Quero tanto te conhecer
I want to get to know you so much
Meu amor não prometo perfeição
My love, I do not promise perfection
Farei o que sentir o que disser o coração
I'll do what my heart feels and says
Se mesmo assim pensares que errei
If even then you think I made a mistake
Um dia verás que foi p'ra teu bem
One day you'll see it was for your own good
Se olhares p'ra mim
If you look at me
Como olho p'ra a minha mãe
Like I look at my mother
Saberei no fim, que acertei
I'll know in the end, that I got it right
Bem mais que errei
Much more than I got wrong
Vou-te encher de beijos agora que te conheci
I'll cover you in kisses now that I've met you
Quero tanto cuidar de ti
I want to take care of you so much
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abigailcosta1716
English Translation
-For You
My love
You are still so small
But what I feel inside
Is already bigger than the world
And when at night
You feel lonely
I'll get the guitar
And I'll sing softly
I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
I'll watch you fall asleep
I want so badly
To meet you
My love
I don't promise perfection
I'll do what I feel
What my heart tells me to do
If, even so,
You think that I was wrong
One day you'll see it was
For your own good
And I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
I'll watch you fall asleep
I want so badly
To meet you
If you look at me
The way I look at my mother
I'll know in the end that I got it right
Much more than wrong
And I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
Now that I've met you
I want so badly
To take care of you
@malenaboy
Meu amor
Ainda és tão pequenino
Mas o que eu cá dentro sinto
Já é maior que o mundo
E quando à noite
Te sentires sozinho
Eu pego na guitarra
E canto baixinho
Vou-te encher de beijos
Assim que te vir
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos
Ver-te adormecer
Quero tanto
Te conhecer
Meu amor
Não prometo perfeição
Farei o que sentir
O que disser o coração
Se mesmo assim
Pensares que errei
Um dia verás que foi
Para teu bem
Vou-te encher de beijos
Assim que te vir
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos
Ver-te adormecer
Quero tanto
Te conhecer
Se olhares para mim
Como olho para a minha mãe
Saberei no fim, que acertei
Bem mais que errei
Vou-te encher de beijos
Assim que te vir
Vou-te ter nos meus braços
De lá não vais sair
Vou-te encher de beijos
Agora que te conheci
Quero tanto
Cuidar de ti
@vascoribeiro69
mon amour
Tu es toujours si petit
Mais ce que je ressens en moi
Il est plus grand que le monde
Et quand le soir
Vous vous sentez seul
Je pris la guitare
Et en chantant doucement
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Une fois que vous venez
Je vous ai dans mes bras
De là, vous ne quitterez pas
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Voyez-vous endormez
Je veux tellement
vous connaissez
mon amour
Je ne promets pas la perfection
Je ferai ce que je ressens
Que disent coeur
Si vous avez encore
Pensares ont commis une erreur
Un jour, vous verrez que c'était
Pour ton bien
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Une fois que vous venez
Je vous ai dans mes bras
De là, vous ne quitterez pas
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Voyez-vous endormez
Je veux tellement
vous connaissez
Si vous me regardez
Je regarde ma mère
Je sais à la fin je frappe
Beaucoup de ce qui était faux
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Une fois que vous venez
Je vous ai dans mes bras
De là, vous ne quitterez pas
Je vais vous remplir de baisers
Maintenant, je vous ai rencontré
Je veux tellement
Prenez soin de vous
@abigailcosta1716
English Translation
-For You
My love
You are still so small
But what I feel inside
Is already bigger than the world
And when at night
You feel lonely
I'll get the guitar
And I'll sing softly
I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
I'll watch you fall asleep
I want so badly
To meet you
My love
I don't promise perfection
I'll do what I feel
What my heart tells me to do
If, even so,
You think that I was wrong
One day you'll see it was
For your own good
And I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
I'll watch you fall asleep
I want so badly
To meet you
If you look at me
The way I look at my mother
I'll know in the end that I got it right
Much more than wrong
And I'll fill you with kisses
As soon as I see you
I will take you in my arms
And from there you'll never leave
I'll fill you with kisses
Now that I've met you
I want so badly
To take care of you
@vloraberisha4783
Abigail Costa thank you
@paulineetherington8075
Abigail Costa Thank you very much! xx
@marsol1979
Spot on 😉
@purrsoul
<3 Thank you for this! I have always loved this song and never knew exactly what she was saying.
@josyjump
Obrigado 🙏
@itvoffical
You singing with your brother last night was just so beautiful! Probably the best scene that ever happened in Eurovision's 56 year old history! Thank you Luisa and Salvador!
@mafaldaramos9532
From Portugal with love
@CieMaKat
Definitely. The very first note you sang made me goosebumps. I was hoping for duet, but even without that this performance was a miracle. Muito obrigado!
@irmamachado6432
Mafalda Ramos r X