Doralice

The song 'Doralice' by João Gilberto, a pioneer of the Bossa Nova genre, is a classic example of the style's gentle rhythms and complex emotions. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has warned a woman named Doralice about the follies of love, expressing his preference for solitude accompanied only by the sound of his guitar. Despite his initial resistance, he finds himself entangled in a relationship with her and is now pondering the consequences of this unexpected turn.

The song's narrative unfolds as a conversation or a confession to Doralice, where the protagonist admits his previous apprehension about love and relationships. The repetition of the phrase 'eu bem que lhe disse' (I told you so) suggests a sense of resignation to the complexities of love that he once tried to avoid. The 'embrulhada' (mess) he refers to is the emotional entanglement that comes with a romantic relationship, which he now has to navigate.

The final verses reveal that Doralice appeared in his life unexpectedly, and despite his attempts to escape, her persistence won over. The singer's premonitions about the risks of love have come true, and he is left asking Doralice, and perhaps himself, what they are going to do now. This rhetorical question underscores the uncertainty of love and relationships, a theme that resonates with many listeners. The song captures the essence of Bossa Nova's introspective and poetic approach to storytelling through music.