Born in Rio de Janeiro to a family deeply rooted in the samba tradition, Paulinho met and befriended much of Rio's samba elite as a child. His father was a guitar player and musicians like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim would often come to his house for rehearsals, which Paulinho watched for hours on end. After the rehearsals, Paulinho would pick up his father's guitar and strum the few chords he knew. Later, as a teenager, he was frequently seen at jams at Jacob do Bandolim's house, quietly and attentively observing the older, more experienced musicians. He began writing his own songs as a teenager, but never considered a career as a professional musician until he met poet Hermínio Bello de Carvalho in 1964. By then, Paulinho was working as a teller at a bank in Rio de Janeiro, and recognised Hermínio from the jam sessions at Jacob do Bandolim's house. The two became close friends and soon began writing music together. The first song they wrote together was Duvide-o-dó, recorded by singer Isaurinha Garcia. He then began performing his own songs at a restaurant in Rio, owned by samba legend Cartola and his wife.
He got his famous nickname in 1965, when he was a member of the samba group A Voz do Morro (the voice of the hills), alongside Zé Keti and Oscar Bigode. After their first recording session, a publicist from the record label reportedly told him "'Paulo César' is not a samba name!". Zé Keti and journalist Sérgio Cabral eventually came up with the nickname "Paulinho da Viola" (something to the lines of "Guitar Paul").
By the 1970s, Paulinho was at the most prolific stage of his career, releasing an average of one album per year. He was already a household name in samba, choro and MPB circles and broadened his audience by touring all over Brazil and also playing at festivals in Europe and the USA. His productivity and popularity had waned by the mid-80s, when he decided to focus more on his songwriting. In 1996 he regained notoriety after releasing the much-acclaimed album Bebadosamba, in which he once again joined forces with Hermínio Bello de Carvalho and Elton Medeiros, his early songwriting partners. He still lives in Rio de Janeiro and performs around Brazil.
Duas Horas Da Manhã
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
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Contrariado espero pelo meu amor
Vou subindo o morro sem alegria,
Esperando que amanheça o dia
Qual será o paradeiro
daquela que até agora não voltou?
Eu não sei se voltará,
ou se ela me abandonou
E a saudade no meu peito vai crescendo
Parece até que o coração me diz
Sem ela, eu não serei feliz...
In Paulinho Da Viola's song "Duas Horas Da Manhã" (Two o'clock in the morning), the singer is waiting for his love interest who hasn't come back yet. He is waiting on the hillside without any joy as he waits for daybreak. He wonders where his lover could be and if she has abandoned him. The singer's hope is dying, and his longing is growing. He feels that without her, he won't be happy.
The song plays on the feelings of sadness and loneliness that arise from being left alone without the person you love. The lyrics suggest that the singer is uncertain of his lover's whereabouts, and as he waits alone, his feelings of despair and heartache deepen. The song speaks to the timeless feeling of yearning for a lost love and the power of love to define one's life.
Overall, the song conveys deep emotion and speaks to the human experience of love and loss. The melodic and melancholic tone of the song adds to its emotional impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Duas horas da manhã,
It's two in the morning,
Contrariado espero pelo meu amor
Anxiously waiting for my love,
Vou subindo o morro sem alegria,
Climbing the hill without joy,
Esperando que amanheça o dia
Waiting for the day to dawn,
Qual será o paradeiro
What will be the whereabouts
daquela que até agora não voltou?
of the one who hasn't returned yet?
Eu não sei se voltará,
I don't know if she will return,
ou se ela me abandonou
Or if she has left me
A minha esperança está morrendo
My hope is dying
E a saudade no meu peito vai crescendo
And the longing in my heart is growing
Parece até que o coração me diz
It seems like my heart is telling me
Sem ela, eu não serei feliz...
I won't be happy without her...
Contributed by Maria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.