Nelson Cavaquinho was in fact born one year after the date consigned on his birth certificate (October 28, 1910). His father, Brás Antônio da Silva (a tuba player from the military police band of Rio), worried about the precocious signs of a dedicated Bohemian, changed the certificate so he could enlist in the Army one year sooner. He was born in the São Cristóvão neighborhood in Rio. At eight, he moved with his family to Lapa. Soon after, he abandoned the junior high school to go to work. Nine years later, he moved again with his family to a blue-collar neighborhood in Gávea, where he began to play the cavaquinho in the local rodas de choro, where he got the nickname. His first choro compositions date from that period, when he also enrolled with the military police (at 19), due to his father's insistency. He got married the next year and moved to the Brás de Pina neighborhood, but his marriage lasted for only a short period, due to his Bohemian habits.
By and by, he began to frequent the rodas de samba in the hills when he wrote his first song, "Entre a Cruz e a Espada." Becoming acquainted with Cartola, wrote some sambas with him, but the partnership ended when Cavaquinho sold one of those songs. He also became friends with many of the hills' composers, but very few of his partners participated in the composition of Cavaquinho 's sambas. As a Bohemian, he used to give partnerships of his songs in exchange for a hotel room for the night (as he did many times at the Hotel Brasil), a dish of food, or even a night of love. In spite of his always being cherished by women in the bars he frequented, most of Cavaquinho 's "partners" were hotel or bar owners or pimps. In 1938, Cavaquinho left the police and became a mason like Cartola. His first samba to be recorded was "Não Faça Vontade a Ela" (with Rubens Campos and Henricão), by Alcides Gerardi in 1939. Ciro Monteiro, a highly popular artist, began to record his songs in 1943 with "Apresenta-me Aquela Mulher" (with Augusto Garcez/Gustavo de Oliveira), followed by "Não te Dói a Consciência" (with Ari Monteiro); in 1945, he recorded "Aquele Bilhetinho" (with Augusto Garcez/Arnô Canegal), all for Victor. In 1946, he recorded Cavaquinho's first big hit, "Rugas" (with Augusto Garcez/Ari Monteiro). Instead of jumping on the success and opening his way into radio, which represented the big avenue for fame and money, he continued to show new songs in rodas de samba. In 1952, he moved to Mangueira. In 1954, Roberto Silva recorded "Notícia" (with Alcides Caminha/Nourival Bahia).
In 1955, he started a long (30 years) and fruitful partnership with Guilherme de Brito, his most constant and important partner. They settled a pact of musical fidelity, which was broken a couple of times (one was in the song "Rei Vagabundo" with José Ribeiro) by Cavaquinho, under alcohol's effluviums. In that same year, Cavaquinho came out with "Cinzas" (with Guilherme de Brito and R. Gaetani); in 1956, he had "Pranto de Poeta" (with Guilherme de Brito); and, in 1957, his masterpiece "A Flor e o Espinho" (with Guilherme de Brito and Alcides Caminha). Caminha was broadly known in Brazil as an erotic cartoonist who signed under the pseudonym of Carlos Zéfiro. His only participation in the song was the amount paid by him, three contos de réis. According to Guilherme de Brito, when there was anyone other than him and Cavaquinho on one of their songs, the person paid to be included in the credits. In 1961, Roberto Silva recorded "Degraus da Vida" (with Antônio Braga and César Brasil, through Copacabana). In the next year, together with Zé Keti, Paulinho da Viola, and Jair do Cavaco, he formed the samba group A Voz do Morro, which would generate a famous show in 1968 by Elton Medeiros and Paulinho da Viola. When Cartola opened his restaurant/nightclub Zicartola, Cavaquinho began to perform for audiences. In 1964, he also performed in the important show Opinião and Nara Leão recorded his "Luz Negra" (with Hiraí Barros) for her opening album, Nara. In the next year, he played violão on Maria Bethânia's opening album on the track "Feiticeira." "A Flor e o Espinho" was recorded in the same year by Elizeth Cardoso on her famous Elizete Sobe o Morro. He also recorded "Luz Negra" in 1966 (with Amâncio Cardoso), a year in which CBS released an LP with only his compositions and three of his interpretations. Three years later, Leon Hirzman shot a short-subject documentary about him, Nelson Cavaquinho. In 1968, he and the samba masters Clementina de Jesus, Cartola, and Carlos Cachaça, recorded the LP Fala Mangueira (Odeon), which was never released on CD. His first solo LP came only in 1970, Depoimentos do Poeta, for Castelinho, and was reissued on CD by Continental.
Later, his "Folhas Secas" (with Guilherme de Brito) was re-recorded by Elis Regina. The song would also be re-recorded by Beth Carvalho, with whom Cavaquinho toured Brazil in the Pixinguinha project. In 1973 and 1974, he recorded other solo albums for Odeon. In 1974, Eduardo Gudin, Paulo César Pinheiro, and Márcia opened the show O Importante é que a Emoção Sobreviva, which was recorded live and released on an eponymous LP containing Cavaquinho's "Tatuagem." In the same year, he played his characteristic and rude violão in Beth Carvalho's Pra seu Governo, on "Miragem." The following year, she recorded the old master again on her Pandeiro e Viola, both for ABW. In 1977, Cavaquinho recorded Os Quatro Grandes do Samba with Elton Medeiros, Candeia, and Guilherme de Brito. In 1985, he was paid tribute in Mangueira at an event where the album Flores em Vida was presented. The album had his compositions interpreted by Chico Buarque, Paulinho da Viola, Christina Buarque, João Bosco, Rafael Rabello, Beth Carvalho, Toquinho, Carlinhos Vergueiro, and others. Cavaquinho also plays violão and sings on three tracks. Cavaquinho continued to live this way until he died of pulmonary emphysema. In 1995, Leny Andrade interpreted his songs on Luz Negra (Velas), a year in which Wayne Shorter, Wallace Roney, Guilherme Vergueiro, Mads Vinding, Robertinho Silva, and Raul de Souza interpreted his songs at São Paulo's Heineken Concerts. In 1996, Zizi Possi recorded his "Juízo Final" (with Élcio Soares) for her Mais Simples, and the compilations Quando eu me Chamar Saudade (EMI) and Nelson Cavaquinho (RCA Victor) were released. In 1998, Nelson Gonçalves recorded "Quando eu me Chamar Saudade" (with Guilherme de Brito) on his Quando a Lapa era Lapa, and Jair Rodrigues also recorded the old sambista on his Jair de Todas as Bossas. In 1999, the label EMI released a compilation of his works on the Raízes do Samba series. In 2000, Flávio Moreira da Costa released the book Nelson Cavaquinho -- Enxugue os Olhos e me dê um Abraço, and Ricardo Cravo Albin presented the show Cavaquinho -- 90 Anos. In the same year, the Banda Mantiqueira presented a selection of his works at the 31o. Festival de Inverno de Campos do Jordão, and the series A Música Brasileira Deste Século por seus Autores e Intérpretes was released, bringing the transcription of 25 of producer Fernando Faro's 400 interviews and TV specials, which include the ones done with Nelson Cavaquinho. Marisa Monte recorded his "Gotas de Luar" on her Memórias, Crônicas e Declarações de Amor. The important compilation Mangueira -- Sambas de Terreiro e Outros Sambas, with Cavaquinho and other bambas, was also released that year. In the same year, the Quinteto em Branco e Preto recorded "Pranto de Poeta" (with Guilherme de Brito). ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide
É tão triste cair
Nelson Cavaquinho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoje eu subo, tu desces
É tão triste cair
Sorriste da minha dor
Este mundo é uma escola
Não te esqueças de aprender
Meu amor
Hoje eu subo, tu desces
É tão triste cair
Sorriste da minha dor
Este mundo é uma escola
Não te esqueças de aprender
Meu amor
Ontem negastes a mão
Quando eu quis me levantar
Mas aprendeste a lição
E hoje estou pronto
Pra te ajudar
Ontem subiste, eu desci
Hoje eu subo, tu desces
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
In these lyrics, Nelson Cavaquinho explores the theme of the ups and downs in life and relationships. The repetition of the lines "Ontem subiste, eu desci / Hoje eu subo, tu desces" (Yesterday you rose, I fell / Today I rise, you fall) highlights the cyclical nature of life and the constant changes in power dynamics. This can be interpreted as a reflection on the ebb and flow of fortune and the unpredictability of life.
The line "É tão triste cair" (It's so sad to fall) expresses a feeling of sorrow or disappointment that comes with experiencing a downfall. It speaks to the vulnerability and pain one feels when they are in a position of weakness or defeat. This can be seen as a reminder of the transient nature of success and the need for empathy and compassion towards others who may be going through difficult times.
The mention of someone who "sorriste da minha dor" (smiled at my pain) suggests that there may have been a lack of empathy or understanding from this person in the past. It implies that they may have taken pleasure in the singer's suffering. This adds to the overall theme of the song, highlighting the importance of learning from these experiences in order to grow and become more compassionate.
The final lines "Ontem negastes a mão / Quando eu quis me levantar / Mas aprendeste a lição / E hoje estou pronto / Pra te ajudar" (Yesterday you denied me your hand / When I wanted to rise / But you learned the lesson / And today I am ready / To help you) depict the evolution of a relationship. It suggests that despite the past rejection or indifference, the singer is now willing to be there for the other person. It reflects the idea that through hardships and lessons learned, people can develop a deeper understanding and willingness to support each other.
Overall, Nelson Cavaquinho's "É tão triste cair" explores the cycles of life, the painful experience of falling, the importance of empathy, and the potential for personal growth and reconciliation within relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Ontem subiste, eu desci
Yesterday you rose, I descended
Hoje eu subo, tu desces
Today I rise, you descend
É tão triste cair
It is so sad to fall
Sorriste da minha dor
You smiled at my pain
Este mundo é uma escola
This world is a school
Não te esqueças de aprender
Do not forget to learn
Meu amor
My love
Ontem negastes a mão
Yesterday you denied the hand
Quando eu quis me levantar
When I wanted to get up
Mas aprendeste a lição
But you learned the lesson
E hoje estou pronto
And today I am ready
Pra te ajudar
To help you
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
It is so sad to fall (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
It is so sad to fall (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
It is so sad to fall (laiá laiá)
É tão triste cair (laiá laiá)
It is so sad to fall (laiá laiá)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nelson Antonio Da Silva
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind