Antonio Pecci Filho (born in São Paulo, Brazil on July 6, 1946), originally… Read Full Bio ↴Antonio Pecci Filho (born in São Paulo, Brazil on July 6, 1946), originally nicknamed "Toquinho" by his mother, is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is well-known for his collaborations, as composer and performer, with Vinícius de Moraes. He began his guitar studies at the age of 14 with Paulinho Nogueira and went on to study harmony with Edgar Janulo, classical guitar with Isaias Sávio and orchestration with Léo Peracchi. He also studied with and befriended Oscar Castro-Neves.

Initially playing in colleges, Toquinho's professional career took off in the 1960s at shows promoted by radio personality Walter Silva at the famous Paramount theater in São Paulo. He composed his first recorded song with Chico Buarque entitled "Lua Cheia" (Full Moon). His first big hit was composed in 1970 with Jorge Benjor, "Que Maravilha" (What a Wonder). That same year he was invited by Vinícius de Moraes, co-writer of the worldwide hit song "Garota de Ipanema" (The Girl from Ipanema), to participate in a series of shows in Buenos Aires, forming a solid partnership that would continue for 11 years and produce 120 songs, 25 records and over a thousand shows.

After the death of Vinícius de Moraes in 1980, he went on to pursue a solo career, often performing with other talented musicians like Paulinho da Viola, Danilo Caymmi, Paulinho Nogueira and Chico Buarque. He continues to record and play.

Noite Longa
Toquinho Lyrics

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Paro junto ao leito,
Fico a te fitar.
Calado então me deito
Evitando te acordar.

Trancadas no meu peito
Tantas coisas pra falar,
Sem ter um jeito

Ao menos de chorar.

Inquieto escuto
A noite a se escoar.
Minuto após minuto,
Pára e pinga devagar.

O peito irresoluto
Quer partir e quer ficar,
Sem ter um jeito
Ao menos de chorar.

Penso em ceder como cedi,
Viver de novo o que vivi,
Matar o orgulho e ser escravo teu.
Mas sem orgulho eu não sou eu.

Recomeçar desde o começo,
Pagar de novo o mesmo preço,
Ser teu senhor e ser escravo teu.

Como viver sem ti, se sou ninguém?
Mas sem orgulho eu não sou eu.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Toquinho's song "Noite Longa" describe the conflicted feelings of the singer as he stands by the bedside of a loved one. He watches them sleeping, afraid to wake them, while his mind races with thoughts and emotions that he can't express. He feels trapped, unable to find a way to share what's inside him or even to release it through tears.

As he listens to the slow drip of the night passing, he is torn between the impulse to stay with his loved one and the desire to run away. He considers giving in, surrendering himself completely to his love, but he knows that would mean sacrificing his pride, his sense of self. He thinks about starting over, paying the price of being a slave to his beloved, but he wonders who he would be without his pride.

The lyrics of "Noite Longa" are a complex mix of romantic longing and inner conflict, beautifully expressed through Toquinho's poetic language and soulful music.

Line by Line Meaning

Paro junto ao leito,
I stop by your bedside,

Fico a te fitar.
And I gaze at you.

Calado então me deito
I lie down silently,

Evitando te acordar.
Avoiding waking you up.

Trancadas no meu peito
Locked in my heart,

Tantas coisas pra falar,
So many things to say,

Sem ter um jeito
But without a way,

Ao menos de chorar.
At least to cry.

Inquieto escuto
Restlessly I listen,

A noite a se escoar.
To the night trickling away.

Minuto após minuto,
Minute after minute,