Elba Ramalho was born in the rural area of Conceição, in Vale do Piancó. In 1962, the family moved to the city of Campina Grande, also in Paraíba. Her father became the owner of the local theater. Daughter of a musician, she became interested in music still as a teenager.
In 1966, she participated, for the first time, in a performance on stage, in the Choir of the Fundação Artística e Cultural Manuel Bandeira, of which she was a member, with "Evocação do Recife". The Manuel Bandeira and Cecília Meireles Talking Choirs gained fame and started to be seen all over the Northeast, and Elba, who made her first presentation on stage together with them, soon became the highlight in the presentations. She starred in the poetic montages of Castro Alves, Thiago de Mello, Lindolfo Bell, Carlos Pena Filho and Figueiredo Agra. He participated in the montages of the plays "Ministro do Supremo" and "Diálogo das Carmelitas."
In 1968, while attending college of Economics and Sociology at the Federal University of Paraíba, she formed the ensemble As Brasas, in which she acted as drummer, which later became a theater group. However, Elba never stopped singing, and performed in several festivals throughout the Northeast.
In 1979, she released her first album, "Ave de Prata", and since then she has consolidated her position as one of the main Brazilian singers in activity. On her father's side, she is a cousin of fellow singer Zé Ramalho.
She has two Latin Grammys for her albums: Qual o Assunto Que Mais Lhe importa?, released in 2008, and Balaio de Amor, 2009, in the category Best Brazilian Roots Album: Regional and Tropical. In over 35 years of career, Elba Ramalho has sold more than 10 million albums. She received from the Art Critics Association of São Paulo the award "Best Show of the Year" on two occasions: in 1989 for the show Popular Brasileira and in 1996 for the show Leão do Norte.
Caravana
Geraldo Azevedo Lyrics
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Repare essas velas no cais
Que a vida cigana
É caravana
É pedra de gelo ao sol
Degelou teus olhos tão sós
Num mar de água clara
These lyrics are from the song Caravana by Geraldo Azevedo. The message behind the song is to keep moving forward in life, not to stop and overthink things too much. The metaphors used in the lyrics compare life to a caravan or a mobile home, constantly moving and changing. The singer tells us to "Repare essas velas no cais" which means to observe the sails at the harbor, a symbol of moving forward in life.
The song mentions the gypsy lifestyle and its transient nature. The phrase "É pedra de gelo ao sol" means that the gypsy way of life is like a block of ice melting in the sun. It will eventually come to an end, and one must cherish the memories and moments along the journey. The song speaks of a clear water sea that has thawed someone's lonely eyes. This could be interpreted as someone who has been stuck in one place for too long, and the gypsy lifestyle has opened their eyes to new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Corra não pare, não pense demais
Don't slow down, don't overthink
Repare essas velas no cais
Notice those sails at the dock
Que a vida cigana
For the gypsy life
É caravana
It's a caravan
É pedra de gelo ao sol
It's an ice cube melting in the sun
Degelou teus olhos tão sós
Melting your lonely eyes
Num mar de água clara
In a sea of clear water
Writer(s): Geraldo Azevedo de Amorim, Alceu Paiva Valenca Copyright: Warner/Chappell Edicoes Musicais Ltda
Contributed by Samantha B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.