VERSE
Only a Dream In Rio
James Taylor
more than a distant land
over a shining sea
more than the steaming green
more than the shining eyes
well they tell me it's only a dream in rio
nothing could be as sweet as it seems
on this very first day down
they remind me ";son have you so soon forgotten
often as not it's rotten inside
and the mask soon slips away";
strange taste of a tropical fruit
romantic language of the portuguese
melody on a wooden flute
somba floating in the summer breeze
it's alright you can stay asleep
you can close your eyes
you can trust the people of paradise
to call your keeper
and tender your goodbyes
oh what a night wonderful one in a million
frozen fire brazillian stars
oh holy southern cross
later on take me way downtown in a tin can;
can't come down from the bandstand
i'm never thrown for such a loss when they say
quando a nossa mae acordar
andareimoz au sol
quando a nossa mae acordar
cantara' pelos sertao
quando a nossa mea acordar
todos os filios saberao
todos os filios saberao
e regozilarao
caught in the rays of the rising sun
on the run from the soldier's gun
shouting out loud from the angry crowd
the mild the wild and the hungry child
i'll tell you there's more than a dream in rio
i was there on the very day
and my heart came back alive
there was more
more than the singing voices
more than the upturned faces
and more than the shining eyes
but it's more than the shining eye
more than the steaming green
more than the hidden hills
more than the concrete christ
more than a distant land
over a shining sea
more than a hungry child
more like another time
born of a million years
more than a million years
Portuguese Version
Performed by James Taylor & Milton Nascimento
Additional lyrics in Portuguese by Fernando Brant
From 'Angelus'
A Terra ¨¦ minha mãe
O mar ¨¦ o meu chão
O verde ¨¦ a luz
Sorrindo em meu olhar
Pois eu digo, ¨¦ mesmo um sonho o Rio
Tudo ser¨¢ como deve ser
Quero estar com voc¨º l¨¢
Eu garanto, ¨¦ um lugar diferente
A minha gente carrega uma cruz
mas tem força pra mudar
Strange taste of a tropical fruit
Romantic language of the Portuguese
Melody on a wooden flute
Samba floating in the Summer breeze
Float on
It¡¯s alright you can stay asleep
You can close your eyes
You can trust the people of Paradise
To call your keeper
And to tender your goodbyes
Oh, what a night
Wonderful one in a million
Frozen fire Brazilian
Oh, Holy Southern Cross
Later on take me way downtown
In a tin can
I can¡¯t come down from the bandstand
I¡¯m never thrown for such a loss
When they say
O lugar de onde eu vim
Brota no coração
O lugar aonde eu nasci
est¨¢ no mundo e em mim
O lugar que a gente sonhar
Pode existir, existir¨¢
Vive em n¨®s e viver¨¢
Enquanto houver canção
Caught in the rays of the rising sun
On the run from the soldier¡¯s gun
Shouting out loud from
The angry crowd
The mild, the wild and the hungry child
I¡¯ll tell you it¡¯s more than
A dream in Rio
I was there on the very day
D¨®i demais o coração, e era mais
Mais do que nossas vozes
Mais do que o nosso rosto
Mais do que a luz do olhar
But it¡¯s more than the shining eye
(Mais do que a luz do olhar)
More than the steaming green
(Mais do que o verdejar)
More than the hidden hills
(Tudo o que não se viu)
More than the concrete Christ
(Mais do que o redentor)
More than a distant land
(Mais do que a Terra Mãe)
Over the shining sea
(Mais do que o c¨¦u e o mar)
More than a hungry child
(A fome a nos doer)
More like another time
(O tempo a nos curtir)
Born of a million years
(Mais do que um milhão)
More than a million years
(De anos pra sonhar)
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A translation of the Portuguese:
Quando a nossa mãe acordar
When our mother awakes
Andaremos ao sol
We shall walk in the sun
Quando a nossa mãe acordar
When our mother awakes
Cantar¨¢ pelo sertão
She shall sing in the wilderness
Quando a nossa mãe acordar
When our mother awakes
Todos os filhos saberão
All her children shall know
Todos os filhos saberão
All her children shall know
E regozijarão
And they shall rejoice
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Translated byAllen Morningstar
About this Song
In 'Only a Dream In Rio', James Taylor paints a vivid portrait of Brazil, particularly Rio de Janeiro, mixing his personal reflections with the cultural and natural beauty of the region. The song captures a sense of longing, nostalgia, and admiration. Taylor alludes to both the external beauty and the socio-political struggles of the area, presenting Rio as a place of dreams and challenges alike. Key themes include the enchanting landscape, cultural richness, and a blend of hope and melancholy for the country. Poignant moments in the song include references to real-life experiences in Rio, alongside profound lyrical imagery that evokes the soulfulness and complexity of the city.
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