Born and raised in São Paulo, after winning several "battle of bands" festivals in "sampa", Tiê studied music and composition in New York before touring with Toquinho (a major name on MPB, Bossa Nova) around Brazil and the world. Back in São Paulo, Tiê developed her style by bridging two different worlds: the local alternative/indie scene and the Bossa Nova/Tropicália sounds of the previous generation. Her list of influences range from Caetano Veloso to Syd Barrett.
"Sweet Jardim" ("Sweet Garden") was recorded in an analogical studio with acoustic guitars, cello and piano – and all the silences filled with breathing, exhaling and dialogues among the musicians – all in a lo-fi, live soundscape. Tiê wrote all the ten songs and plays most of the instruments on the record - which was produced by Plínio Profeta.
Passarinho
Tiê Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Despertei cai no chão e com as flores cresci.
E decidi que a vida logo me daria tudo
Se eu não deixasse que o medo me apagasse no escuro.
Quando mamãe olhou pra mim, ela foi e pensou
Que um nome de passarinho me encheria de amor
Mas passarinho se não bate a asa logo pia
Ah! e como é bom voar!
The lyrics of Tiê's song Passarinho describe the journey of life from the perspective of a young girl who is as small and innocent as a bean sprout. She realizes that life can be tough, but she is determined to live fearlessly and embrace all that it has to offer. She compares herself to a flower that grew from the ground and reveals that her mother named her after a bird, which made her feel loved. However, the young girl has a strong desire to spread her wings and create her own identity, even if it means straying from her given name.
The song highlights the theme of self-discovery and realizing one's potential. The young girl decides that fear should not hold her back from achieving her dreams and goals. She uses the metaphor of flying like a bird to describe the freedom and excitement that comes with living life to the fullest. Despite her name being tied to a bird, she wants to be her own person and not defined by others' expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Como um brotinho de feijão foi que um dia eu nasci,
I was born like a little bean sprout, and as I grew up surrounded by flowers, I knew that life would give me everything I wanted, as long as I didn't let fear hold me back.
Despertei cai no chão e com as flores cresci.
When I emerged, I fell to the ground, but soon, I grew alongside the flowers, which helped me become strong and determined.
E decidi que a vida logo me daria tudo
I decided that life would grant me everything I desired, but to make that possible, I must never let fear and darkness dim my light.
Se eu não deixasse que o medo me apagasse no escuro.
I knew that if I allowed fear to take over me, I would lose my way in the dark and never soar as high as I am meant to.
Quando mamãe olhou pra mim, ela foi e pensou
When my mother looked at me, she thought my lively spirit mirrored that of a bird - free and full of zest.
Que um nome de passarinho me encheria de amor
Thus, she gave me a bird's name, hoping that it would evoke in me a sense of freedom, independence, and love.
Mas passarinho se não bate a asa logo pia
But a bird that doesn't spread its wings and fly would be no different from a feeble and timid creature, always chirping but never venturing into the unknown.
Eu que tinha um nome diferente já quis ser Maria!
So, despite having a unique name that means bird, I yearned to be called by a more mundane name, Maria, because I believed that it would give me a better chance to stand out and be recognized.
Ah! e como é bom voar!
But after all, nothing feels as exhilarating as flying high like a bird, feeling the wind on my face, and seeing the world from a different perspective.
Contributed by Bailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.