“Água de beber” (1963)
In honor of Astrud Gilberto’s 83rd birthday, a translation of a bossa nova standard that Tom Jobim wrote with Vinicius de Moraes on a trip to the brand new city of Brasília. Commonly considered the first song ever written in the new capital, Astrud made it famous in 1965 on her debut album, “The Astrud Gilberto Album,” and it has been covered by countless others since. Norman Gimbel, who translated a number of Jobim’s songs contemporaneously decided that the title “Água de Beber” should be translated as “Water to Drink” but given the song’s origin story, I think “Water for Drinking” is a better translation.
“Water for Drinking”
I wanted to love but I was afraid and wanted to save my heart
But love knows a secret, fear can kill your heart
Water for drinking, water for drinking, buddy
Water for drinking, water for drinking, my friend
I never did things quite right, I went to the school of forgiveness
My house is always open, I opened all the doors of my heart
Water for drinking, water for drinking, my friend,
Water for drinking, water for drinking, buddy