Son of Anna Illichi of Yugoslav origin and Catholic, and Paul Mautner, an austrian jew, Jorge Mautner was born shortly after his parents landed in Brazil: "I was born here a month after my parents arrived in Brazil, fleeing the Holocaust" .
In 1948, his parents divorced. Anna married the violinist Henri Muller and moved to São Paulo. Henri George teaches George the violin.
Mautner begins to write his first book, "Deus da chuva e da morte" at age 15. The book was published in 1962 and consists, with "Kaos" (1964) and "Narciso em tarde cinza" (1966), of the trilogy now known as the Kaos mythology.
In 1962, adheres to the Brazilian Communist Party, invited by Professor Mario Schenberg to participate, with Jose Roberto Aguilar, in a cultural cell in the Central Committee.
After the 1964 military coup, Mautner is arrested. He is released under the condition that he will express himself more "carefully". In 1966, he goes to the United States, where he works at UNESCO and works in translation for Brazilian books. He also gave lectures on these books for the Inter-American Literature. Since 1967, he starts working as secretary to the poet Robert Lowell; he meets Paul Goodman, sociologist, poet and anarchist peace activist of the New Left, from whom he receives significant influence.
In 1970, he goes to London, where he approaches Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Back to Brazil he starts writing in the journal O Pasquim. At this time, Nelson Jacobina knows who will be his musical partner in the following decades.
On December 10,1973, the toughest period of military dictatorship, he participates in the Banquete dos Mendigos, show-manifesto conceived and directed by Jards Macalé, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With UN support, the show takes place at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, transformed into "free territory", and results in double-album recorded live. The album was banned for six years by the military regime and only released in 1979.
Mautner releases in 1987, with Gilberto Gil, the movement "Figa Brasil" on the show O Poeta e o Esfomeado. Figa Brasil is linked to the Kaos movement, and aims to discuss issues related to Brazilian culture.
Among his musical achievements recorded by great names of MPB are included the songs O vampiro (Caetano Veloso), Maracatu atômico (Gilberto Gil e Chico Science & Nação Zumbi), Lágrimas negras (Gal Costa), Samba dos animas (Lulu Santos) Rock Comendo Cereja, O vampiro e Samba Jambo com (Jonge).
Samba Jambo
Jorge Mautner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Por aí
Esse samba jambo
Escorregando para não cair
Eu me encosto nesse poste
À sombra da bananeira
E por mais que eu te goste
Você não vê minha bandeira
Iê, iê, iê
Iô, iô, iô
Seus olhinhos sempre têm, meu bem
Aquela luz da aurora da manhã
The lyrics to Jorge Mautner's song Samba Jambo depict the feeling of being lost and wandering aimlessly. The opening line "Eu não ando eu só sambo por aí" translates to "I am not walking, I am just samba-ing around" symbolizing the aimless wandering. The term "Samba Jambo" itself is a combination of two elements - samba, which is a quintessential Brazilian dance form; and "jambo" (a Brazilian fruit), which is known for its slippery nature. The phrase "escorregando para não cair" (slipping to not fall) further emphasizes this slipperiness.
The singer of the song finds temporary respite by leaning on a post under the shade of a banana tree, yet despite his love for someone, they do not acknowledge his existence. The line "E por mais que eu te goste, você não vê minha bandeira" translates to "And even though I like you, you don't see my flag." This imagery conveys a desire for someone to recognize and acknowledge one's presence and individuality. The repetition of "Iê, iê, iê, Iô, iô, iô" adds a playful tone to the song, perhaps representing the constant samba dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu não ando eu só sambo
I'm not walking, I'm just dancing samba
Por aí
Around here
Esse samba jambo
This wild samba
Escorregando para não cair
Slipping to avoid falling
Eu me encosto nesse poste
I lean on this post
À sombra da bananeira
In the shade of the banana tree
E por mais que eu te goste
And even though I like you
Você não vê minha bandeira
You don't see my flag
Iê, iê, iê
La la la
Iô, iô, iô
Yo yo yo
Seus olhinhos sempre têm, meu bem
Your eyes always have, my dear
Aquela luz da aurora da manhã
That light of the morning dawn
Writer(s): HENRIQUE MAUTNER, NELSON PIRES
Contributed by John D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.