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)

Não Posso Viver Sem Ela
Cartola Lyrics

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Tive que contar a minha vida
A esta mulher fingida
Que me faz sofrer
Esta dor que tanto me crucía
Roubou toda a alegria
Do meu viver

Pode ser que ela ouvindo os meus ais

Volte ao lar pra viver em paz

Esta malvada bem sabe o mal que me fez
Mas não faz mal eu lhe perdoo outra vez

Meu coração vive reclamando noite e dia
Por isso eu peço que ela volte para a minha companhia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cartola's song "Não Posso Viver Sem Ela" (I Can't Live Without Her) portray the pain and suffering of a person who has been betrayed by their partner. The opening line, "Tive que contar a minha vida," ("I had to tell my story") suggests that the singer has had to share their deepest secrets with this treacherous woman in order to maintain the relationship. However, the woman turns out to be "fingida" ("false" or "pretentious"), causing the singer immense pain and robbing them of any joy or happiness.

Despite the betrayal, the singer still pines for this woman, hoping that she will return and they can live together in peace. The lines "Esta malvada bem sabe o mal que me fez / Mas não faz mal eu lhe perdoo outra vez" ("This wicked woman knows the harm she has done to me / But it doesn't matter, I forgive her once again") suggest a willingness to forgive, even after being hurt so deeply. The final plea, "Por isso eu peço que ela volte para a minha companhia" ("That's why I ask her to come back into my life"), emphasizes the desperation and longing of the singer to be reunited with the woman who has caused them so much pain.

Overall, "Não Posso Viver Sem Ela" is a poignant and emotional portrayal of the complexities of love and betrayal, and the often conflicting emotions that arise in these situations.

Line by Line Meaning

Tive que contar a minha vida
I had to tell my life story

A esta mulher fingida
To this deceitful woman

Que me faz sofrer
Who makes me suffer

Esta dor que tanto me crucía
This pain that crucifies me so much

Roubou toda a alegria
Stole all happiness

Do meu viver
From my life

Pode ser que ela ouvindo os meus ais
Maybe she, hearing my cries

Volte ao lar pra viver em paz
Will come back home to live in peace

Esta malvada bem sabe o mal que me fez
This wicked woman knows well the harm she caused me

Mas não faz mal eu lhe perdoo outra vez
But it doesn't matter, I forgive her once again

Meu coração vive reclamando noite e dia
My heart keeps complaining day and night