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.
Pecado Capital
Paulinho da Viola Lyrics
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É vendaval
Na vida de um sonhador
De um sonhador
Quanta gente aí se engana
E cai da cama
Com toda a ilusão que sonhou
E a grandeza se desfaz
Quando a solidão é mais
Alguém já falou
Mas é preciso viver
E viver não é brincadeira não
Quando o jeito é se virar
Cada um trata de si
Irmão desconhece irmão
E aí dinheiro na mão é vendaval
Dinheiro na mão é solução
E solidão
The first verses of Paulinho Da Viola's song "Pecado Capital" describe the precarious relationship between money and dreams. The opening line, "Dinheiro na mão é vendaval" ("Money in hand is a hurricane"), sets the tone and is repeated twice, emphasizing the fleeting nature of wealth. The next line, "Na vida de um sonhador" ("In the life of a dreamer"), adds context and proposes that the danger of money lies in its ability to seduce those who have aspirations. The implication is that a dreamer who acquires money risks losing sight of their values and priorities. The following line, "Quanta gente aí se engana" ("How many people are deceived"), confirms this, suggesting that many people fall into the trap of believing that money will fulfill their dreams. The line "E cai da cama com toda a ilusão que sonhou" ("And wakes up with all the illusion they dreamed of") reinforces this idea, highlighting the disappointment that comes with realizing that money cannot buy happiness or true fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Dinheiro na mão é vendaval
Money in hand is a whirlwind
É vendaval
It's a whirlwind
Na vida de um sonhador
In the life of a dreamer
De um sonhador
Of a dreamer
Quanta gente aí se engana
How many people deceive themselves
E cai da cama
And fall off the bed
Com toda a ilusão que sonhou
With all the illusion they dreamed of
E a grandeza se desfaz
And greatness dissolves
Quando a solidão é mais
When loneliness is greater
Alguém já falou
Someone has already said
Mas é preciso viver
But we must live
E viver não é brincadeira não
And living is no joke
Quando o jeito é se virar
When the way is to fend for oneself
Cada um trata de si
Each one takes care of themselves
Irmão desconhece irmão
Brother doesn't recognize brother
E aí dinheiro na mão é vendaval
And there, money in hand is a whirlwind
Dinheiro na mão é solução
Money in hand is a solution
E solidão
And loneliness
Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.