Samba came of age in Rio de Janeiro during the early 20th century, nurtured… Read Full Bio ↴Samba came of age in Rio de Janeiro during the early 20th century, nurtured in the city's 'samba schools'. Velha Guarda Da Portela are a group of veteran musicians from one such institution, whose traditions have long been transmitted orally. Aware that this left them vulnerable to extinction, Brazilian MPB star Marisa Monte – whose father was a director of the Portela Samba School – decided to seek out, dust down and restore the finest songs in their repertoire, none of which had been recorded before. Tudo Azul, from 2000, is the result, augmented with four bonus tracks from two other albums recorded in 2001 and cut from a similar cloth. The only mystery is why this disc (the bulk of which was recorded in 1999) has taken so long to appear.

It's to Monte's credit that she avoids the overcooked production that detracted slightly from her recent fine album Universo Ao Meu Redor. Instead, she favours a simple stripped down sound for the understated but effervescent acoustic arrangements. These feature the ukulele-like trill of cavaquinho, mellow 7-string guitar, the occasional woozy trombone and samba’s trademark percussive battery of booming surdo drum, the cheeky-sounding cuíca (friction drum), tambourine, pandeiro and so on. Monte is a great singer, but only allows herself two honeyed vocals, the best of which appears on the delightful Volta Meu Amor. The other guest stars include samba smoothie Paulinho da Viola (A Noite Que Tudo Esconde), Cristina Buarque (somewhat lost in the chorus of Monha Vontade) and Moreno Veloso, who sounds much like his father Caetano on Vou Me Embora.

But it's the Velha Guarda ('old guard') who take centrestage. Some of their singers such as Casemiro da Cuíca and Jair Do Cavaquinho (both taking their stage names from the instruments they also play) seem a little wobbly on their feet, even if they can still swing. But thankfully, Monarco still sounds in rude health and takes the lion's share of the lead vocals. All are usually accompanied by a wonderfully rousing chorus of backing/call and response singers – typified by Você Me Abandonu – underlining the communal nature of this music.

Volta Meu Amor
VELHA GUARDA DA PORTELA Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Foi embora o meu grande amor
Fiquei tão sozinho, sem um carinho
Neste mundo senhor
Não deixe criador eu sofrer assim
Faça voltar este amor pra mim

Volta, volta, meu amor
Quero sentir novamente seu calor

Volta, volta, meu amor
Quero sentir novamente o seu calor

Vem para os meu braços não me diga mais adeus
Eu só quero ouvir amor dos lábios teus
O teu perfume quero sentir

Entre os meus braços o teu calor
Tão forte quanto o meu amor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to VELHA GUARDA DA PORTELA's song "Volta Meu Amor" express the pain and loneliness felt by someone whose great love has left them. The singer pleads with a higher power not to let them suffer in this way, asking for the return of their love. The chorus repeats the plea for their love to come back, wanting to feel their warmth and embrace once again.

The second verse expresses the singer's desire for their love to come back to them and never leave again, even if it means hearing the words "goodbye" no more. They want to feel their love's scent and warmth, hoping it will be as strong as their love for each other.

Overall, the lyrics are a heartfelt and emotional plea for lost love to return, conveying the pain of separation and the desire for reconciliation.

Line by Line Meaning

Foi embora o meu grande amor
My great love has left me

Fiquei tão sozinho, sem um carinho
I am very lonely, without any affection

Neste mundo senhor
In this world, oh Lord

Não deixe criador eu sofrer assim
Creator, please do not let me suffer like this

Faça voltar este amor pra mim
Bring back this love to me

Volta, volta, meu amor
Come back, come back, my love

Quero sentir novamente seu calor
I want to feel your warmth again

Vem para os meu braços não me diga mais adeus
Come to my arms and don't say goodbye anymore

Eu só quero ouvir amor dos lábios teus
I just want to hear sweet words from your lips

O teu perfume quero sentir
I want to smell your perfume

Entre os meus braços o teu calor
In my arms, I want to feel your warmth

Tão forte quanto o meu amor
As strong as my love

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AUREA MARIA DE ALMEIDA ANDRADE, MANACE JOSE DE ANDRADE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Clio Agape

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Saudade do Brasil de gente solidária, gente sem preconceito religioso e sexual, o Brasil de católico, macumbeiro, um Brasil de esperança em dias melhores, o Brasil de todos...