Brazilian singer Gal Costa, another pillar of Brazilian popular music, is Moreno Veloso's godmother. Additionally, many of the greats of the Brazilian music scene visited the Veloso household frequently and, therefore, Moreno Veloso grew up surrounded by musicians and much music. This rich environment had a great impact in Moreno Veloso's musical development.
Veloso studied physics at a university but turned instead to musici and singing. In 2000 Moreno Veloso recorded his first album, Máquina de Escrever Música (English: Music Typewriter) but his songwriting debut was much earlier in 1982 with Um Canto de Afoxé para o Bloco Do Ile, a clear reference to African mythology. The Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, full of rithms and colors, predominant in his native city of São Salvador da Bahia must have had a remarcable impact on his natural talent while he was growing up.
Moreno Veloso's work has been well received far and wide. For example, American singer and band leader Chrissie Hynde, a longtime resident of the city of London, England, has expressed great admiration for his work and even has traveled and performed with him throughout Brazil right after the turn of the millennium. One of Moreno Veloso's music groups was called Moreno Veloso + 2 (composed of Moreno Veloso, Alexandre Kassin and Domênico Lancelotti).
Livro & O Beijo
Moreno Veloso Lyrics
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cega é a faca que não corta mais
quando volta do norte
pequena grande que não cresce mais
tá ficando mais forte
Burro, otário quem não mente mais
Se um pouco apertado
de fingir
debaixo de tanta estrela
horas depois de chão sacudido
e deitado junto de mim confessa gostar da dança
mas depois vem o bandido
E depois de tudo
espero que ainda me vejam agir
e se não virem não ligo
mas não faço nada sem me consumir
Dar a mesma volta
espero chegar nunca mais aqui
Vai o livro de novo
The lyrics to Moreno Veloso's song Livro & O Beijo seem to be a reflection on justice, truth, and self-consumption. The first line, "A justiça é cega, cega é a faca que não corta mais" ("Justice is blind, blind is the knife that doesn't cut anymore"), speaks to the idea that justice can be unjust and ineffective at times, just like a knife that has lost its edge.
The next few lines talk about returning from the north and being small yet mighty. The singer seems to be growing stronger while others who tell the truth and don't lie are "burro, otário" (dummy, sucker). There is a sense of shifting power dynamics and a sort of coming-of-age theme.
As the song progresses, we hear about a dance, followed by a "bandido" (bandit) who comes after. This could symbolize the idea that after pleasure comes consequences or danger. The final lines talk about not repeating the same mistakes or returning to the same place again, as the book goes on.
It's up to interpretation whether the book refers to the singer's life story or some sort of metaphorical book, but the song seems to be about growth and self-awareness, acknowledging the injustices in the world and attempting to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
A justiça é cega
Justice is blind
cega é a faca que não corta mais
The knife that no longer cuts is also blind
quando volta do norte
When it returns from the north
pequena grande que não cresce mais
Small but great, no longer growing
tá ficando mais forte
It's getting stronger
Burro, otário quem não mente mais
Foolish is he who no longer lies
Se um pouco apertado
If a little tight
de fingir
To pretend
Agora eu trouxe você aqui
Now I brought you here
debaixo de tanta estrela
Beneath so many stars
horas depois de chão sacudido
Hours after the ground was shaken
e deitado junto de mim confessa gostar da dança
Lying beside me, confesses to liking the dance
mas depois vem o bandido
But then comes the bandit
E depois de tudo
And after everything
espero que ainda me vejam agir
I hope they still see me act
e se não virem não ligo
And if they don't, I don't care
mas não faço nada sem me consumir
But I do nothing without consuming myself
Dar a mesma volta
Taking the same turn
espero chegar nunca mais aqui
I hope to never come back here again
Vai o livro de novo
The book goes again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MORENO GADELHA VELOSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind