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.

Meu Bem Querer
Nana Caymmi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rio Grande do Sul
Vou-me embora sem amor
Vou-me embora do Rio Grande
Vou tão só com a minha dor
Levarei a lembrança comigo
De um amor que de olhares nasceu
De um amor que depressa floriu
Mas tão cedo morreu

Rio Grande do Sul
Eu um dia voltarei
Pra rever o meu Guaíba
Pra rever meu bem-querer
E depois se ela ainda quiser
Só nós dois a sonhar e a sorrir
Rio Grande do Sul
Vou chorar ao partir

Levarei a lembrança comigo
De um amor que de olhares nasceu
De um amor que depressa floriu
Mas tão cedo morreu

Rio Grande do sul
Eu um dia voltarei
Pra rever o meu Guaíba
Pra rever meu bem-querer
E depois se ela ainda quiser
Só nós dois a sonhar e a sorrir

Rio Grande do Sul
Vou chorar ao partir

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nana Caymmi's song Meu Bem Querer talk about the pain of leaving a place and a person you love behind. The singer is leaving Rio Grande do Sul, a southern state of Brazil, without love, only with their pain. They carry with them the memories of a love that was born from glances, that blossomed quickly but died too soon. Rio Grande do Sul is home to the Guaíba River, which is mentioned in the lyrics as the singer's longing to return to it and to their loved one. They dream of returning to be with their beloved and share their dreams together only if she still wants it. The song ends with the singer crying when they leave.

The lyrics use a lot of imagery related to the natural elements of Rio Grande do Sul, such as the Guaíba River, to express the singer's emotions. The repetition of "Rio Grande do Sul" throughout the song emphasizes the attachment the singer has to the place they are leaving. The phrase "só nós dois a sonhar e a sorrir" (only us two dreaming and smiling) expresses their hope to be with their loved one again and dream together.

Overall, Meu Bem Querer is a melancholic and sentimental song about the pain of leaving behind a place and a person you love, but also about hope to return and the memories that will stay with you.

Line by Line Meaning

Rio Grande do Sul
The singer is leaving Rio Grande do Sul.

Vou-me embora sem amor
The singer is leaving without love.

Vou-me embora do Rio Grande
The singer is leaving Rio Grande do Sul.

Vou tão só com a minha dor
The singer is leaving with only their pain.

Levarei a lembrança comigo
The singer will take the memory of a love that was born through glances.

De um amor que de olhares nasceu
The memory the singer will take is of a love that was born through glances.

De um amor que depressa floriu
The love quickly blossomed, but also quickly died.

Mas tão cedo morreu
The love died too soon.

Rio Grande do Sul
The singer intends to return to Rio Grande do Sul.

Eu um dia voltarei
The singer will return one day.

Pra rever o meu Guaíba
The singer wants to see the Guaíba again.