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.
Para Ver As Meninas
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Enquanto esqueço um pouco
A dor do peito
Não diga nada sobre meus defeitos
Eu não me lembro mais
Quem me deixou assim
Hoje eu quero apenas
Para ver as meninas
E nada mais nos braços
Só esse amor
Assim descontraido
Quem sabe de tudo, não fale
Quem não sabe nada, se cale
Se for preciso eu repito
Porque hoje eu vou fazer
Ao meu jeito, eu vou fazer
Um samba sobre o infinito
The song Para Ver As Meninas by Paulinho Da Viola talks about finding a moment of respite from the pain in his heart by watching the girls. The singer asks for silence while he tries to forget the source of his pain. He does not want to hear anyone comment on his flaws because he already doesn't remember who left him feeling this way. The singer then mentions that he wants a moment of pause to watch the girls and to have nothing more than the love he has for them in his arms. This love is uncomplicated, and he wants to enjoy it without complications.
The song's message is to enjoy the simple moments which bring joys in life, such as women dancing with elation. The singer wants nothing more than to enjoy this moment of simplicity and scorns those who know everything about relationships and those who have no idea about them but still talk. He wants to create a samba that talks about the infinite possibilities of enjoying small pleasures in life.
Overall, the song touches on the universal theme of heartbreak and the need to find moments of tranquility and joy amidst pain. It is a song about appreciating the simple pleasures of life and dismissing the chatter of those who know too much or too little.
Line by Line Meaning
Silencio, por favor
Please be silent
Enquanto esqueço um pouco
While I forget a little
A dor do peito
The pain in my chest
Não diga nada sobre meus defeitos
Don't say anything about my flaws
Eu não me lembro mais
I don't remember anymore
Quem me deixou assim
Who left me like this
Hoje eu quero apenas
Today I just want
Um pausa de mil compassos
A pause of a thousand beats
Para ver as meninas
To see the girls
E nada mais nos braços
And nothing more in my arms
Só esse amor
Only this love
Assim descontraido
So relaxed
Quem sabe de tudo, não fale
Those who know everything, don't speak
Quem não sabe nada, se cale
Those who don't know anything, keep quiet
Se for preciso eu repito
If necessary, I'll repeat
Porque hoje eu vou fazer
Because today I'm going to do
Ao meu jeito, eu vou fazer
In my way, I'll do it
Um samba sobre o infinito
A samba about infinity
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.