Daughter of musicians Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris, and sibling of Danil… Read Full Bio ↴Daughter of musicians Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris, and sibling of Danilo and Dori Caymmi, Nana was raised in one of the most musical families in Brazil. Nana started singing at an early age and adopted a singular technique which enhanced her low pitch voice. In 1961 she recorded her father's song "Acalanto", and then moved with her husband to Venezuela, an withdrawing from the music bizz for that period. Back in Brazil, Nana released her first album "Nana", for the record label Elenco, which belonged to the music producer Aloysio de Oliveira. In 1966, Nana performed the song "Saveiros" (Dori Caymmi/ Nelson Motta) at the First International Song Festival and was placed first. She has also worked abroad with Sarah Vaughan and Sergio Mendes.

Adeus
Nana Caymmi Lyrics

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Ai, a lua que no céu surgiu
Não é a mesma que te viu
Nascer nos braços meus
Cai, a noite sobre o nosso amor
E agora só restou do amor
Uma palavra adeus

A vontade de ficar mas tendo que ir embora

Ai, que amar é se ir morrendo pela vida afora
É refletir na lágrima, um momento breve
De uma estrela pura cuja luz morreu
A mulher, estrela a refulgir
Parte, mas antes de partir
Rasga meu coração
Crava as garras no meu peito em dor
E esvai em sangue todo o amor
Toda desilusão

A vontade de ficar mas tendo que ir embora
Ai, que amar é se ir morrendo pela vida afora
É refletir na lágrima um momento breve
De uma estrela pura
Cuja luz morreu

Numa noite escura
Triste como eu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nana Caymmi's song "Adeus" express the pain and sadness of a love that has come to an end. The song begins by describing how the moon that now appears in the sky is not the same one that witnessed their love blooming. The night falls upon their love, leaving behind only the word "goodbye."

The singer of the song reflects on the conflicting emotions of wanting to stay but having to leave. They express the notion that love is a continuous process of dying throughout life, a sacrifice that is made for the sake of love itself. They describe this as seeing their reflection in a tear, a fleeting moment of a pure star whose light has died.

In the second verse, the woman, compared to a shining star, is about to depart. Before leaving, she metaphorically tears the singer's heart apart, causing immense pain. All the love and disillusionment flow out like blood, emphasizing the intensity of the emotions involved.

The chorus reiterates the conflicting desire to stay but having to let go and leave. The singer expresses the idea that loving means gradually dying throughout life. Once again, they mention reflecting on a tear, portraying a brief moment of a pure star whose light has faded away. The song ends by emphasizing the darkness and sadness, comparing it to the singer's state of mind.

Overall, "Adeus" is a poignant and emotional portrayal of the pain and complexity of love, and the difficulty of saying goodbye. It explores themes of sacrifice, longing, and the sorrow that comes with the end of a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Ai, a lua que no céu surgiu
Oh, the moon that appeared in the sky

Não é a mesma que te viu
It's not the same one that saw you

Nascer nos braços meus
Being born in my arms

Cai, a noite sobre o nosso amor
Night falls upon our love

E agora só restou do amor
And now only remains of love

Uma palavra adeus
A word, farewell

A vontade de ficar mas tendo que ir embora
The desire to stay but having to leave

Ai, que amar é se ir morrendo pela vida afora
Oh, love is to go on dying throughout life

É refletir na lágrima, um momento breve
It is to reflect in a tear, a fleeting moment

De uma estrela pura cuja luz morreu
Of a pure star whose light has died

A mulher, estrela a refulgir
The woman, a shining star