Leonor
Naná Vasconcelos e Itamar Assumpção Lyrics
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Casamento é muito caro
Sou compositor, cantor, também sou autor
Falo mais de flor que dor, Leonor
Mas não sou Roberto Carlos
Não tenho carro de boi, Leonor
Nem outro tipo de carro
Meu cachê é um horror, Leonor
Não tenho nem gravador, Leonor
Meu São Benedito é de barro
Meu menu é feijão com arroz
Que divido com mais dois, Leonor
Quando não falta trabalho
Viver somente de amor, Leonor
É tão lindo quanto precário
Tem que morar de favor, Leonor
Lá no bairro do Calvário
O que eu tinha de valor, Leonor
Dois gatos, três agasalhos
Cachecol de lã gibis do Tarzan
Gibis de terror, cobertor
Quatro jogos de baralho
Um macacão furta-cor, Leonor
Uma colcha de retalhos
O que não está no penhor, Leonor
Foi pra casa do Carvalho
The lyrics of "Leonor" by Naná Vasconcelos e Itamar Assumpção talk about the struggles of a composer, singer and author who is unable to make ends meet. The first stanza urges Leonor to take it slow while carrying the andor, which is a portable shrine or altar. The composer goes on to explain how marriage is an expensive affair, and how he doesn't have the wealth of Roberto Carlos or any other kind of conveyance. His earnings are low, and he has to make do without even a tape recorder. All he has are two cats, three sweaters, a multicolored jumpsuit, a patchwork quilt, and some Tarzan and horror comics.
The composer seems to be talking to someone close to him, perhaps a lover or a friend named Leonor. He talks about how he talks more about flowers than pain, indicating that he is not a gloomy person despite his financial struggles. He also points out that making a living off love is beautiful but precarious. He laments the fact that he has to live in someone else's house in the shabby neighborhood of Calvary. The song is a poignant commentary on the life of a struggling musician and artist, who despite his hardships, manages to retain his poetic sensibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Devagar com esse andor Leonor
Take it easy, Leonor.
Casamento é muito caro
Marriage is too expensive.
Sou compositor, cantor, também sou autor
I am a composer, a singer, and an author.
Falo mais de flor que dor, Leonor
I talk more about flowers than pain, Leonor.
Mas não sou Roberto Carlos
But I am not Roberto Carlos.
Não tenho carro de boi, Leonor
I don't have an ox cart, Leonor.
Nem outro tipo de carro
Nor any other kind of car.
Meu cachê é um horror, Leonor
My fee is a disaster, Leonor.
Não sobra nem pro cigarro
There is not even enough for a cigarette.
Não tenho nem gravador, Leonor
I don't even have a recorder, Leonor.
Meu São Benedito é de barro
My Saint Benedict is made of clay.
Meu menu é feijão com arroz
My menu is rice and beans.
Que divido com mais dois, Leonor
That I share with two more people, Leonor.
Quando não falta trabalho
When work is not lacking.
Viver somente de amor, Leonor
Living only on love, Leonor.
É tão lindo quanto precário
Is as beautiful as precarious.
Tem que morar de favor, Leonor
Have to live as a guest, Leonor.
Lá no bairro do Calvário
There in the Calvary neighborhood.
O que eu tinha de valor, Leonor
What I had of value, Leonor.
Dois gatos, três agasalhos
Two cats, three sweaters.
Cachecol de lã gibis do Tarzan
Wool scarf, Tarzan comics.
Gibis de terror, cobertor
Horror comics, blanket.
Quatro jogos de baralho
Four decks of cards.
Um macacão furta-cor, Leonor
A multicolored jumpsuit, Leonor.
Uma colcha de retalhos
A patchwork quilt.
O que não está no penhor, Leonor
What is not in the pawnshop, Leonor.
Foi pra casa do Carvalho
Went to Mr. Carvalho's house.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.