Initially their sound was a fusion of psychedelic rock with traditional folk sounds, Brazilian as well as Latin, a style that is most evident in É Ferro na Boneca (1970). Their music began to gravitate more towards MPB, particularly due to João Gilberto's influence, who frequently visited the group. Their 1972 album Acabou Chorare contained the classic Preta Pretinha. The group had a strong hippie image and in same year, they moved to a community in Jacarepaguá. They left Som Livre and joined the Continental label in 1973. The band released records until their break-up in 1979.
The album "Acabou Chorare" was elected in 2007 as the best Brazilian music album of all time.
Vagabundo Não É Fácil
Novos Baianos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De cima deitada, acordada, sentada na cama, espantando os mosquitos. Enquanto eu faço um remédio da minha cabeça.
Misturando mel de abelha, com bicarbonato de sódio. Só pra deixar a garganta em dia, cobrindo sua surdez e porque já somos pessoas sem ódio.
E no mais, tudo na mais perfeita paz. Sendo que eu assumo isso mesmo quando se diz que já acabou, ainda quero morrer de amor.
Ao menos leve uma certeza, você me deixa doído. Mas só não me deixará doido, porque isso sou, isso já sou. (bis)
The lyrics of Novos Baianos's Vagabundo não é fácil talk about a man who is in love with a woman who came to live right above his window. He admires her from afar and contemplates singing a serenade for her if he wasn't suffering from a canker sore. He describes her as trying to keep the mosquitoes away while lying, sitting, and being awake on her bed, which he can see from his window. Meanwhile, he tries to heal his headache by creating a remedy with honey and baking soda. He mentions that they are both peaceful people who do not carry hatred within them, even though he is in pain because of his love for her.
The chorus of the song speaks directly to the woman, urging her to leave his window and not think that life is like a soccer game. He tells her that while she may be causing him pain, she will not drive him crazy because he is already a little crazy to begin with. The last verse finishes with the singer saying that he accepts things as they are and that even when it seems like it's over, he still wants to die for love.
Line by Line Meaning
Se eu não tivesse com afta até faria uma serenata pra ela. Que veio cair de morar em cima da minha janela. (bis)
If I didn't have a mouth sore, I'd serenade her. She came to live right above my window. (repeat)
De cima deitada, acordada, sentada na cama, espantando os mosquitos. Enquanto eu faço um remédio da minha cabeça.
Lying, awake or sitting on the bed, swatting mosquitoes. While I concoct a remedy from my own head.
Misturando mel de abelha, com bicarbonato de sódio. Só pra deixar a garganta em dia, cobrindo sua surdez e porque já somos pessoas sem ódio.
Mixing bee honey with baking powder. Just to keep our throats healthy, overcoming deafness and because we're already people without hate.
E no mais, tudo na mais perfeita paz. Sendo que eu assumo isso mesmo quando se diz que já acabou, ainda quero morrer de amor.
And besides, everything is in perfect peace. I accept it even when it's said it's over, still wanting to die of love.
Vá! Se arranque da minha janela. Assim é tomar a frente do Sol. Tá pensando que tudo é futebol?
Go! Get off my window. That's taking the lead from the Sun. Do you think everything is soccer?
Ao menos leve uma certeza, você me deixa doído. Mas só não me deixará doido, porque isso sou, isso já sou. (bis)
At least take one certainty, you leave me hurt. But you won't drive me crazy, because that's who I am, that's who I already am.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.