O Mundo É Um Moinho
The band´s interesting name did not come about until journalist João Piment… Read Full Bio ↴The band´s interesting name did not come about until journalist João Pimentel, writing for Brazil´s top selling daily paper O Globo, made a reference in one of his articles to the group of musicians that played with Teresa Cristina every Saturday night at the bar Semente, placed in one of Rio´s most bohemian neighborhoods, Lapa. It was in 1998 that Bernardo, João, Pedrinho, Ricardo Cotrim (no longer a member of Semente) and other friends, got together for the first time. Back then, Teresa was selecting repertoire for a tribute show she intended to put together in honor of Brazilian music virtuoso Candeia, and handpicking the musicians. Bernardo, at the time a member of group Acorda Bamba, invited band mate Alexandre Bittencourt (who, in turn, invited other musician pals, including Pedrinho, João and Ricardo) to Teresa´s 30th birthday party. That was when the invitation was formalized and well accepted, prompting a routine of meetings between Teresa and the guys to rehearse Candeia´s repertoire, though, in the end, the show never made it to the stage. Still in that year, Teresa and the boys played together for the first time at a show celebrating the International Women´s Day at the Planetário da Gávea theatre. Their premiere on the pulsating night of Lapa, one of Rio de Janeiro´s musical cribs, took place right after this, when Teresa and the group were invited by a certain well known character "Seu Guaracy", of Portela Samba School, to launch the new night music program at local bar Semente, known as a health food place, up until then. It worked out so well that soon Teresa Cristina and Grupo Semente were being called the "rescuers of Lapa´s night life", that had been going down since the eighties. After becoming a hit band playing at Semente, Teresa and the guys went on to perform at other venues in Lapa, such as carioca da Gema and Centro Cultural Carioca, for an ever growing audience. Media recognition came with the release of the first album, a double tribute to Brazilian idol Paulinho da Viola´s 60th birthday, which won Teresa a couple of awards - "Prêmio Rival BR" and "Prêmio Tim"- as "Best New Artist", and a "Best Samba Album" nomination at the 2003 Latin Grammy´s. After that, many were the invitations that took Teresa and Semente all over Brasil and even to Japan, showing the world all the beauty of the good genuine Brazilian music. In 2004, Teresa, Bernardo, Pedrinho and João welcomed Mestre Trambique, coming to replace Ricardo Cotrim, who was leaving the band, and they went in the studio once again to record the band´s second album "A Vida Me Fez Assim" ("Life has Made Me This Way"), which featured Teresa´s premiere as a songwriter. They gathered an excess of overwhelming reviews, and sold-out theatres on which they performed. On that same year, the band hit the road with the "Projeto Pixininguinha" tour, performing at the main cities of the Northeast of Brazil. In 2005, they performed at the "Brazilian Year" Celebrations in Paris, while recording their fist live CD and DVD, suitably titled: "O Mundo é Meu Lugar" ("The World is My Place").

O Mundo É Um Moinho
Teresa Cristina Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ainda é cedo, amor
Mal começaste a conhecer a vida
Já anuncias a hora de partida
Sem saber mesmo o rumo que irás tomar

Preste atenção, querida
Embora eu saiba que estás resolvida
Em cada esquina cai um pouco a tua vida
E em pouco tempo não serás mais o que és

Ouça-me bem, amor
Preste atenção, o mundo é um moinho
Vai triturar teus sonhos tão mesquinhos
Vai reduzir as ilusões a pó

Preste atenção, querida
De cada amor, tu herdarás só o cinismo
Quando notares, estás à beira do abismo
Abismo que cavaste com teus pés

Ainda é cedo, amor
Mal começaste a conhecer a vida
Já anuncias a hora de partida
Sem saber mesmo o rumo que irás tomar

Preste atenção, querida
Embora eu saiba que estás resolvida
Em cada esquina cai um pouco a tua vida
E em pouco tempo não serás mais o que és

Ouça-me bem, amor
Preste atenção, o mundo é um moinho
Vai triturar teus sonhos tão mesquinhos
Vai reduzir as ilusões a pó

Preste atenção, querida
De cada amor, tu herdarás só o cinismo




Quando notares, estás à beira do abismo
Abismo que cavaste com teus pés

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "O Mundo É Um Moinho" by Teresa Cristina highlight the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The singer appeals to their beloved to pay attention to the fleeting nature of existence and to consider the consequences of their choices. The first two stanzas emphasize how quickly life can pass by and how easy it is to lose oneself in the daily grind. The line "em cada esquina cai um pouco da tua vida" (at every corner, you lose a bit of your life) underscores the idea that time cannot be regained, and it is essential to make the most of every moment.


The chorus serves as a warning to the beloved that the world can be a ruthless place that grinds down one's hopes and dreams. The image of the world as a mill that "triturar teus sonhos tão mesquinhos" (grinds your petty dreams) is a powerful metaphor for how the world often reduces one's aspirations to dust. The final stanza is a plea for the beloved to heed their words and to take stock of their lives' direction. The line "abismo que cavaste com teus pés" (the abyss you dug with your own feet) is a stark reminder that one is responsible for the consequences of their actions.


Overall, "O Mundo É Um Moinho" reflects a deep sense of melancholy and resignation at the transience of existence. Yet, it also offers a note of caution that one can take control of their lives and make meaningful choices.


Line by Line Meaning

Ainda é cedo, amor
It's still early, my love


Mal começaste a conhecer a vida
You've only just begun to experience life


Já anuncias a hora de partida
Yet you declare it's time to leave


Sem saber mesmo o rumo que irás tomar
Without even knowing which direction to go


Preste atenção, querida
Pay attention, my dear


Embora eu saiba que estás resolvida
Although I know you're determined


Em cada esquina cai um pouco a tua vida
Your life slips away at every corner


E em pouco tempo não serás mais o que és
And soon you won't be who you are


Ouça-me bem, amor
Listen to me closely, my love


Preste atenção, o mundo é um moinho
Pay attention, the world is a mill


Vai triturar teus sonhos tão mesquinhos
It will crush your petty dreams


Vai reduzir as ilusões a pó
Reducing illusions to dust


De cada amor, tu herdarás só o cinismo
From every love, you'll only inherit cynicism


Quando notares, estás à beira do abismo
Before you know it, you'll be on the edge of an abyss


Abismo que cavaste com teus pés
An abyss you dug with your own feet




Writer(s): Cartola

Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@natalydossantos4483

Ainda é cedo, amor
Mal começaste a conhecer a vida
Já anuncias a hora de partida
Sem saber mesmo o rumo que irás tomar

Preste atenção, querida
Embora eu saiba que estás resolvida
Em cada esquina cai um pouco a tua vida
Em pouco tempo não serás mais o que és

Ouça-me bem, amor
Preste atenção, o mundo é um moinho
Vai triturar teus sonhos, tão mesquinhos
Vai reduzir as ilusões a pó

Preste atenção, querida
De cada amor tu herdarás só o cinismo
Quando notares estás à beira do abismo
Abismo que cavaste com os teus pés



All comments from YouTube:

@alinebarbosa2686

Sensacional, leveza, delicadeza, alto astral, nooooossa... só tenho elogios!

@oscartorres7364

Que voz, Cartola está muito bem representado. Espero vê-la em show um dia.

@thiagodadalto834

Gratidão minha rainha, por todo um Brasil que você em sua maratona diaria, cada live uma aula!
Que o universo te abençoe, com tudo que há de bom, bonito e forte!
Toda luz e sorte. Lhe amo!
#Cristiners #TT#RainhaDasLives

@zazariba

Obrigada por essa bela interpretação Teresa Cristina!

@rejanecarvalho675

É dona de uma voz que toca a alma e emociona e encanta! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@mariaclararodriguesxavier3138

Cantora e compositora cativante! Música maravilhosa.

@jessicapinheiro7312

Voz potente que encanta todos e todas que se permitem ouví-la

@renatomartins.logistica

Salve o morro de Mangueira

@SimoneFer

IMPECÁVEL!!!! Ainda em êxtase aqui.... Toda a minha admiração.

@batatadoce3314

Voz Linda, sabe de samba, elegante, maravilhosa do Brasil e do mundo.

More Comments

More Versions