Maria Bethânia
Caetano Veloso Lyrics


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uem me chamou Mangueira
Chegou a hora, não dá mais pra segurar
Quem me chamou, chamou pra sambar
Não mexe comigo, eu sou a menina de Oyá
Não mexe comigo, eu sou a menina de Oyá

Raiou, senhora mãe da tempestade
A sua força me invade, o vento sopra e anuncia
Oyá Entrego a ti a minha fé
O abebé reluz axé
Fiz um pedido pro Bonfim abençoar
Oxalá, Xeu Êpa Babá
Oh Minha Santa me proteja, me alumia
Trago no peito o Rosário de Maria
Sinto o perfume, mel, pitanga e dendê
No embalo do xirê, começou a cantoria

Vou no toque do tambor ô ô ô
Deixo o samba me levar, saravá
É no dengo da baiana, meu sinhô
Que a Mangueira vai passar

Voa carcará Leva meu dom ao Teatro Opinião
Faz da minha voz um retrato desse chão
Sonhei que nessa noite de magia
Em cena, encarno toda poesia
Sou abelha rainha, fera ferida, bordadeira da canção
De pé descalço, puxo o verso e abro a roda
Firmo na palma, no pandeiro e na viola
Sou trapezista num céu de lona verde e rosa




Que hoje brinca de viver a emoção
Explode coração

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Caetano Veloso's song Maria Bethânia are a tribute to the Brazilian singer with the same name. The song starts with someone (possibly an announcer) calling for Mangueira, one of the most traditional samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. The singer then says that it's time to party and dance samba. She warns others not to mess with her, saying that she is the girl of Oyá, an Afro-Brazilian goddess of winds, lightning, and violent storms. The singer then invokes Oyá, giving her faith and asking for her blessings, while also making offerings to other deities such as Oxalá.


The chorus of the song is an invitation to join the carnival parade of Mangueira, which is known for its dengo (graceful and charming) baianas (women from Bahia), who wear voluminous skirts and headwraps adorned with beads and flowers. The singer says that she lets the samba take control, and she dances with joy and devotion. In the second verse, the singer imagines herself performing in a theater, where her voice becomes a portrait of Brazilian culture and identity. She dreams that she embodies all the poetry, artistry, and resilience of her people. She compares herself to a bee queen, a wounded animal, and a song embroiderer. She also mentions musical instruments such as the pandeiro (a type of frame drum) and the viola (a plucked string instrument). Finally, the singer expresses her feeling of being part of a circus troupe that flies in a green and pink tent, experiencing the thrill of living intensely.


Overall, the song Maria Bethânia celebrates the joy, spirituality, and creativity of Brazilian culture, as embodied by the singer who bears the name of the song. It evokes the syncretism of African, Indigenous, and European influences that have shaped the country's identity, and asserts the power of music and dance to express and heal the joys and sorrows of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Quem me chamou Mangueira
Someone called me to Mangueira


Chegou a hora, não dá mais pra segurar
The time has come, it can't be held back anymore


Quem me chamou, chamou pra sambar
Whoever called me, called me to samba


Não mexe comigo, eu sou a menina de Oyá
Don't mess with me, I am the girl of Oyá


Raiou, senhora mãe da tempestade
Dawn broke, lady mother of the storm


A sua força me invade, o vento sopra e anuncia
Your strength invades me, the wind blows and announces


Oyá Entrego a ti a minha fé
Oyá, I give you my faith


O abebé reluz axé
The abebé shines with axé


Fiz um pedido pro Bonfim abençoar
I made a request for Bonfim to bless


Oxalá, Xeu Êpa Babá
Oxalá, Xeu Êpa Babá


Oh Minha Santa me proteja, me alumia
Oh my Santa, protect me, enlighten me


Trago no peito o Rosário de Maria
I carry the Rosary of Maria in my heart


Sinto o perfume, mel, pitanga e dendê
I feel the scent of honey, pitanga and dendê


No embalo do xirê, começou a cantoria
To the rhythm of xirê, the singing began


Vou no toque do tambor ô ô ô
I go to the beat of the drum ô ô ô


Deixo o samba me levar, saravá
I let the samba take me, saravá


É no dengo da baiana, meu sinhô
It's in the dengo of the baiana, my lord


Que a Mangueira vai passar
That the Mangueira will pass


Voa carcará Leva meu dom ao Teatro Opinião
Fly, carcará, take my talent to Teatro Opinião


Faz da minha voz um retrato desse chão
Make my voice a portrait of this ground


Sonhei que nessa noite de magia
I dreamed that on this magical night


Em cena, encarno toda poesia
On stage, I embody all poetry


Sou abelha rainha, fera ferida, bordadeira da canção
I am the queen bee, wounded beast, embroiderer of the song


De pé descalço, puxo o verso e abro a roda
Barefoot, I pull the verse and open the circle


Firmo na palma, no pandeiro e na viola
I make my mark on the palm, on the pandeiro and on the viola


Sou trapezista num céu de lona verde e rosa
I am a trapeze artist in a green and pink canvas sky


Que hoje brinca de viver a emoção
That today plays with living the emotion


Explode coração
Heart explodes




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexandre Augusto Panzoldo, Braz Almyr Tartarone Filho, Carlos Eduardo Zugliani De Sa, Lacir Alves De Oliveira, Paulo Soares Ramos, Renan Brandao Alves

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Yurungai

O ARRANJO DESSE SOM É MUITO FODAA! Olha essas cordas no fim AA

Arno Ar gueta

sem dúvida minha música favorita do Caetano... uma música quase uma oração entre o mar e o sertão baiano, porém feito no exilio. Só Caetano pra genialidade dessa.

easylistening77

written and recorded during his exile to Britain. rough time but this is what came out of that experience.

Lucas Andrade

O refrão dessa música me mata ❤️🔥

Πρακτορείο Αλεξάνδεια Ημαθίας

PERFECT PERFECT SONG,. CAETANO WE LOVE YOU FROM GREECE!!!!!

marco antonio barreto

Se n é Caetano! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣
O que seria da verdade, nesses dias?!
Gente, traduz a música, antes de só ouvir o refrão!!!!
Ou entao, falem o indioma da música!🤦🏻‍♀️🤣
Amo esse cara! ❤️

Adriano Dias Casais

What a poet!👏👏👏

n

perfeito ♥️

Cristian Rodrigues de Freitas

Acho que Bethania estava longe quando Caetano compos esta música... e eu aqui tomando uma cervejinha na vespera de carnaval!!

patoorange

Amazing song. Caetano is god.

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