Angenor de Oliveira, known as Cartola (it is Portuguese for 'top hat'), (Oc… Read Full Bio ↴Angenor de Oliveira, known as Cartola (it is Portuguese for 'top hat'), (October 11, 1908 – November 30, 1980) was born in Rio de Janeiro, in a neighborhood called Catete. He got his nickname because of the bowler hat he wore to keep the cement from ruining his hair while working at construction sites.

He was one of the samba composers and founders of the Estação Primeira de Mangueira, and has credit for both the name of the school and its colors: green and pink. Cartola composed, alone and alongside others, more than 500 songs.

"Cartola did not exist. He was a dream we had."

(Nelson Sargento)

Escurinha
Cartola Lyrics

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Escurinha
Tu tem de ser minha de qualquer maneira
Eu te dou meu barraco
Te dou meu boteco
Que tenho no morro de Mangueira
Comigo não há embaraços
Vem que eu te faço, meu amor
A rainha da escola de samba

Que teu preto é diretor
Quatro paredes de barro
Telhado de zinco
Assoalho no chão
Só tu escurinha
É quem está faltando no meu barracão
Sai disso, tolinha
Aí nessa cozinha levando a pior
Lá no morro eu te ponho no samba

Te ensino a ser bamba
Te faço a maior

Overall Meaning

Escurinha is a romantic samba song by Cartola, a renowned Brazilian composer, and singer. In the song, the singer expresses his adoration for a woman named Escurinha, who he desperately wants to be with. He offers her his house and his bar in Mangueira, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, where he lives. He reassures her that there will be no obstacles if she chooses to accept his proposal. He promises to make her the queen of the samba school and states that her partner is a director.

The lyrics suggest that Escurinha is struggling and needs the singer to rescue her. He sees potential in her and is confident that he can transform her into a celebrated samba musician. The singer positions himself as Escurinha's savior and mentor, with the power to rescue her from her current situation. The song conveys a romanticized, idealized version of life in the favela, where music, love, and community are central to the story.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu tem de ser minha de qualquer maneira
I desire you to be mine no matter what it takes

Eu te dou meu barraco
I offer you my humble dwelling

Te dou meu boteco
I give you my small bar

Que tenho no morro de Mangueira
which I own in the hill of Mangueira

Comigo não há embaraços
I will protect you from any difficulties

Vem que eu te faço, meu amor
Come to me and I will make you happy, my love

A rainha da escola de samba
You will become the queen of the samba school

Que teu preto é diretor
Where your man is the director

Quatro paredes de barro
Four walls made of mud

Telhado de zinco
With a zinc roof

Assoalho no chão
A wooden floor on the ground