Nelson Cavaquinho (Nelson Antônio da Silva - October 29,1911 Rio de Janeiro… Read Full Bio ↴Nelson Cavaquinho (Nelson Antônio da Silva - October 29,1911 Rio de Janeiro - February 2,1986 Rio de Janeiro) was arguably the best samba composer ever, behind Cartola. He left 600 compositions that have been recorded by some of the greatest interpreters of Brazilian music, including Ciro Monteiro, Elis Regina, Elizeth Cardoso, Chico Buarque, Guinga, Paulinho da Viola, João Bosco, Rafael Rabello, Zizi Possi, Beth Carvalho, Toquinho, Luiz Melodia, Maria Bethânia, Leny Andrade, Clara Nunes, Jards Macalé, Itamar Assumpção, Arnaldo Antunes, Nelson Gonçalves, Zeca Pagodinho, and others.
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
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
O Bem E O Mal
Nelson Cavaquinho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nunca é tarde pra quem sabe esperar
O que se espera há de se alcançar
Eu plantei o bem e vou colher o que mereço
A felicidade deve ter meu endereço
Eu não sei porque tu falas mal de mim
Se eu tenho defeitos Deus me fez assim
Mas tenho certeza do que me convém
Entre o mal e o bem
Tu és a treva, eu sou a luz
Entre nós dois não pode haver a união
Eu tenho a fé que me conduz
Pra me livrar de quem deseja
Apunhalar meu coração
Nunca é tarde pra quem sabe esperar
O que se espera há de se alcançar
Eu plantei o bem e vou colher o que mereço
A felicidade deve ter meu endereço
Eu não sei porque tu falas mal de mim
Se eu tenho defeitos Deus me fez assim
Mas tenho certeza do que me convém
Entre o mal e o bem
Entre o mal e o bem
O que se espera há de se alcançar
Eu plantei o bem e vou colher o que mereço
A felicidade deve ter meu endereço
Eu não sei porque tu falas mal de mim
Se eu tenho defeitos Deus me fez assim
Mas tenho certeza do que me convém
Tu és a treva, eu sou a luz
Entre nós dois não pode haver a união
Eu tenho a fé que me conduz
Pra me livrar de quem deseja
Apunhalar meu coração
Nunca é tarde pra quem sabe esperar
O que se espera há de se alcançar
Eu plantei o bem e vou colher o que mereço
A felicidade deve ter meu endereço
Eu não sei porque tu falas mal de mim
Se eu tenho defeitos Deus me fez assim
Mas tenho certeza do que me convém
Entre o mal e o bem
Entre o mal e o bem
The song "O Bem E O Mal" by Nélson Cavaquinho is a reflection on the dichotomy between good and evil in human nature, as well as the consequences of the choices we make in life. The lyrics express the idea that it is never too late for those who know how to wait, and that what one expects will eventually be achieved. The singer emphasizes the importance of sowing good deeds in order to reap what they deserve and find happiness. They believe that happiness should come to them.
The singer wonders why someone speaks ill of them, acknowledging that they have flaws but accepting themselves as they are, knowing what is good for them between good and evil. The lyrics then express a divide between the singer and the person who speaks ill of them, portraying them as darkness and the singer as light. There is a clear distinction between the two, and they cannot come together. The singer has faith that guides them, protecting them from those who wish to hurt them emotionally.
Overall, "O Bem E O Mal" explores the themes of patience, the consequences of one's actions, acceptance of flaws, and the battle between good and evil within oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Nunca é tarde pra quem sabe esperar
It is never too late for those who have patience
O que se espera há de se alcançar
What is hoped for will be achieved
Eu plantei o bem e vou colher o que mereço
I have sown goodness and will reap what I deserve
A felicidade deve ter meu endereço
Happiness must have my address
Eu não sei porque tu falas mal de mim
I don't know why you speak ill of me
Se eu tenho defeitos Deus me fez assim
If I have flaws, God made me this way
Mas tenho certeza do que me convém
But I am sure of what suits me
Entre o mal e o bem
Between evil and good
Tu és a treva, eu sou a luz
You are darkness, I am light
Entre nós dois não pode haver a união
There can be no union between us two
Eu tenho a fé que me conduz
I have the faith that guides me
Pra me livrar de quem deseja apunhalar meu coração
To protect myself from those who want to stab my heart
Entre o mal e o bem
Between evil and good
Entre o mal e o bem
Between evil and good
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Guilherme DeBritto, Nelson Antonio Da Silva
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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