From a musical family, Vinicius began writing poetry early in life. At the age of 14, he became friends with the brothers Paulo and Haroldo Tapajós and, with the latter, composed "Loura ou Morena", his first song. In 1929, Vinicius enrolled in law school in Rio de Janeiro. Then, starting in 1932, he wrote lyrics for ten songs that were recorded by the Tapajós brothers. Upon completing his studies, he published his first two collections of poetry Caminho Para a Distância (1933) and Forma e Exegese. Later, in 1935, he became a cinema censor for the Ministry of Health and Education. During this time, he wrote his third book Ariana, a Mulher (1936).
Vinicius then headed to England (1938) with an English government scholarship to study literature at Oxford University and while there he wrote Novos Poemas. At that time he was married by proxy. In 1941, during World War II, Vinicius returned to Rio and began to write film reviews and other pieces for newspapers and magazines. Two years later, he joined Brazil's diplomatic service and released his book Cinco Elegias. In 1946, he was sent to Los Angeles as vice-consul on his first diplomatic assignment and released Poemas, Sonetos e Baladas.
In 1950 Vinicius returned to Brazil upon his father's death. His first samba (composed with musician Antônio Maria), was Quando Tu Passas por Mim, released in 1953, which was the same year in which he moved to France as second secretary to Brazil's embassy.
The next year he wrote lyrics for some of Cláudio Santoro's chamber music pieces and also staged his play Orfeu da Conceição, which was later adapted to cinema as Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro, Marcel Camus, 1959. The play won the IV São Paulo Centennial Contest in 1954. During production he was introduced to a relatively unknown pianist, Antônio Carlos Jobim, who was commissioned to write the music for the play. Jobim composed the music for Se Todos Fossem Iguais a Você, Um Nome de Mulher, and several other songs included in the production.
Following a return to his diplomatic duties in France and Uruguay, Vinicius released his books Livro de Sonetos and Novos Poemas II.
In 1958, the singer Elizeth Cardoso released her album Canção do Amor Demais, marking the beginning of bossa nova. This record consists wholly of compositions by the either Jobim or Vinicius, or both. The recording also featured a relatively unknown João Gilberto on two tracks. With the release of this record Vinicius's--and his collaborators--can be said to have truly begun.
The songs of Jobim and Vinicius were recorded by numerous Brazilian singers and performers of that time. Renditions of many Jobim-Vinicius numbers on João Gilberto's first three albums would firmly establish the sound and the core repertory of the bossa nova and would influence a new generation of singers and songwriters, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Among these songs are all time hits such as Garota de Ipanema, Insensatez and Chega de Saudade.
Meanwhile, Black Orpheus won an Academy Award for best foreign film in 1960, and also was awarded with the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival, and the 1960 British Academy Award.
Vinicius' songs Para uma Menina com uma Flor and Samba da Bênção (music by Baden Powell) were included on the soundtrack of A Man and a Woman (Un Homme et une Femme, Claude Lelouch, 1966), another Cannes film festival winner.
In the '60s and '70s, Vinicius continued collaborating with many renowned Brazilian singers and musicians, particularly Baden Powell, with whom he penned a series of songs with a heavy Afro-Brazilian influence and which came to be known collectively as the Afro-Sambas. His last steady music partner was Antonio Pecci Filho, better known as Toquinho. With Toquinho he released a series of very popular and influential albums.
Hundreds of international performers have recorded more than 400 of Vinicius' songs.
Vinicius de Moraes died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 9, 1980 at the age of 66. He is buried in Rio's São João Batista Cemetery.
Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
Vinícius de Moraes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Por toda minha vida eu vou te amar
A cada despedida eu vou te amar
Deseperadamente
Eu sei que vou te amar
E cada verso meu
Será prá te dizer
Por toda minha vida
Eu sei que vou chorar
A cada ausência tua
Eu vou chorar
Mas cada volta tua há de apagar
O que essa tua ausência me causou
Eu sei que vou sofrer
A eterna desventura de viver
Na espera de viver ao lado teu
Por toda minha vida
The lyrics to "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar" by Vinícius de Moraes express a devotion and eternal love towards a significant other. The singer declares that they know they will love this person for the rest of their life, even during times of departure and despair. Every line of the singer's poetry will be dedicated to their love for this person. The singer understands that there will be times in which they will cry due to their partner not being present, but their return will alleviate all thoughts and feelings of emptiness. The singer acknowledges that heartache is inevitable but claims they are willing to endure it if it means being able to spend their life with the person they love.
The lyrics communicate an unconditional love that is not influenced by physical proximity or emotional turbulence. The singer is aware that their love will be tested, but such tests will not diminish their feelings towards this person. The words illustrate a love that is committed to working through all obstacles and hardships to ensure that they are together forever. The repetition of the phrase, "Por toda minha vida eu vou te amar" emphasizes the singer's steadfast commitment to their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu sei que vou te amar
I know that I'll love you
Por toda minha vida eu vou te amar
For my entire life, I'll love you
A cada despedida eu vou te amar
Every goodbye, I'll love you
Desesperadamente
Desperately
E cada verso meu
And every verse of mine
Será prá te dizer
Will be to tell you
Que eu sei que vou te amar
That I know I'll love you
Por toda minha vida
For my entire life
Eu sei que vou chorar
I know I'll cry
A cada ausência tua
With every absence of yours
Eu vou chorar
I'll cry
Mas cada volta tua há de apagar
But every return of yours will erase
O que essa tua ausência me causou
What your absence caused me
Eu sei que vou sofrer
I know I'll suffer
A eterna desventura de viver
The eternal misfortune of living
Na espera de viver ao lado teu
In hopes of living by your side
Por toda minha vida
For my entire life
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.