Spending his childhood in his hometown Belo Horizonte, Horta became acquainted with soon-to-be famous names like Nivaldo Ornelas, Milton Nascimento, Wagner Tiso, and others that became known as the Clube da Esquina. His first recording was for Nivaldo Ornelas's 1969 album. In 1970, he accompanied Elis Regina and Tom Jobim in the show Tom & Elis in Rio. His participation in Nascimento's Clube da Esquina (1972) was noticed, and soon he was backing Gal Costa, Nana Caymmi, Joyce, Edu Lobo, Maria Betânia, Dori Caymmi, among others. In 1973, he recorded the album Beto Guedes, Danilo Caymmi, Novelli e Toninho Horta (EMI). His first solo album came in 1980, the independent Terra Dos Pássaros, which was released in the U.S. in 1995 (WEA). In 1980, he released the LP Toninho Horta on EMI, released in the U.S. in 1990 through Capitol. In 1985, he performed in the Free Jazz Festival (São Paulo) together with Toots Thielemans and Bob McFerrin. Horta moved to the U.S. in 1992, continuing to record with other artists and to release his solo albums. In 1992, he performed in London, England, accompanying Marisa Monte. In 1993, he backed Caetano Veloso in Brussels, Belgium. In the same year, he appeared in the Heineken Concerts (Rio) with Gary Peacock and Billy Higgins. In 1994, he played with Phillip Catherine at the IX Martinique Guitarre Festival. In 1995, he played in Japan with Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, and Keith Jarrett.
By Alvaro Neder
I Love You
Toninho Horta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
And you appear in all your splendor,
My one and only love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
A heaven that I've never known.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
My one and only love.
Toninho Horta’s song “I Love You” is a heartfelt tribute to a lover, and the power that this person has to bring light into the singer’s life. The opening lyrics of the song express the overwhelming love that the singer has for this person, and how their very thoughts can lift the singer’s mood. The comparison to an April breeze on the wings of spring is a beautiful metaphor that expresses the joy and lightness that this person brings to the singer’s life. Furthermore, the singer highlights the importance of this person to them by calling them their “one and only love”.
The following lyrics continue the theme of the overpowering love that the singer feels for their lover. The imagery created by the mystic charms of the shadows that fall and envelop the couple while they are alone together is a powerful metaphor for the intimacy and closeness that the singer feels when they are with their lover. The physical intimacy they share is described in terms of warmth and tenderness, which conveys a sense of gentleness and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
Just the idea of you brings so much happiness to my heart
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
You make me feel alive and free like the freshness of spring on a breezy April day
And you appear in all your splendor,
In your entirety, you are a magnificent sight to behold
My one and only love.
My entire heart belongs to you and you only
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
Darkness looms, but with you in my embrace, there is an enchanted feeling in the air
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
The calm and peacefulness of the night amplifies my love for you when we're together
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
The tenderness of your lips on mine is the epitome of comfort and affection
My one and only love.
The only one who has ever captured my heart and soul
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
The touch of your hand sends shivers down my spine, like a glimpse of paradise
A heaven that I've never known.
I have never felt such pure bliss before
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
The way your cheeks flush when I talk to you shows that you are mine, and I am yours
Tells me that you are my own.
Your reaction assures me that we belong to each other and no one else
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
The mere thought of you ignites a burning passion I cannot contain
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
Every time our lips meet, it's like flames of passion engulf my being
I give myself in sweet surrender,
I submit myself completely and willingly, without hesitation
My one and only love.
The individual who has captured my heart and soul, who I will love until the end of time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy B. Wood, Robert Mellin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind