Her history is linked with the developing of important escolas de samba (samba schools) from Rio de Janeiro, such as Prazer da Serrinha and Império Serrano. Her repertoire is comprised of mostly romantic sambas inspired by rootsy African music. Until 2000, she recorded only these 5 LPs and one CD. Dona Ivone Lara is the godmother of the group of composers at Império Serrano and participates in the carnival parades every year.
Dona Ivone Lara was born in Rio de Janeiro. She graduated in nursing, with specialization in Occupational Therapy, and worked as a social worker until she retired in 1977. With this professional background, she worked in psychiatric hospitals, where she knew Dr. Nise da Silveira.
With the death of her mother when she was three, and of her father when she was twelve, Dona Ivone was raised by aunts and uncles and with them she learned to play the cavaquinho. She was exposed to samba music at the side of her cousin Mestre Fuleiro; she took singing lessons from Lucília Villa-Lobos and was praised by Dona Lucília's husband, the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.
At the age of 25, she married Oscar Costa, son of Afredo Costa, the president of the Prazer da Serrinha samba school. At Prazer da Serrinha she met several composers who later became her partners in several compositions, among them Mano Décio da Viola e Silas de Oliveira.
Dona Ivone composed the samba Nasci para sofrer (Born To Suffer), which became the theme song of the samba school. When the samba school Império Serrano was founded in 1947, she began to parade in the ala das baianas (Wing of the Baianas) during carnaval parades. There she composed the samba Não me perguntes (Don't Ask Me),. Her consecration as a composer came in 1965, with Os cinco bailes da história do Rio (The Five Balls of the History of Rio) qwhen she became the first woman to become part of the ala de compositores (Wing of the Composers) of a samba school.
Retiring from nursing in 1977, she began to dedicate herself to her musical career. She continues to record and to perform before live audiences today. Among the interpreters of her songs are such singers and artists as Clara Nunes, Roberto Ribeiro, Maria Bethânia, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Paula Toller, Paulinho da Viola, Beth Carvalho, Mariene de Castro e Roberta Sá.
Sereia Guiomar
Dona Ivone Lara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
Ah, como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
Como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
O canto desta sereia fascina
O canto desta sereia fascina
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina
Mas fala na beira do cais que Manoel pescador
Ouvindo um canto tão lindo, por ele se apaixonou
Saiu correndo pro mar quando em noite de lua
Envolvido no seu manto, o moço flutua
E a sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
La la la la la la la la... mora em alto mar
Ah, como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
Como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
O canto desta sereia fascina
O canto desta sereia fascina
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina
Quando o mistério do mar, me causa grande emoção
Encantamento e beleza que fere o meu coração
História de pescador gela meu sangue nas veias
Quando ele conta a lenda da bela sereia
E a sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
E a sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
E como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
Como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
O canto desta sereia fascina
O canto desta sereia fascina (axé)
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina...
The lyrics to Dona Ivone Lara's song "Sereia Guiomar" tell the story of a mermaid named Guiomar who lives in the deep sea. The song emphasizes the beauty and enchantment of Guiomar's voice, which captivates and fascinates everyone who hears it. The singer marvels at the mesmerizing power of her singing.
The song also introduces the character of Manoel, a fisherman who falls in love with Guiomar after hearing her captivating voice. Unable to resist her call, he rushes into the sea on a moonlit night, becoming enveloped in her spell. The song expresses the allure and irresistible nature of Guiomar's singing, suggesting that it dominates and controls those who encounter it.
Additionally, the lyrics explore the emotions evoked by the mystery of the sea and the legend of the beautiful mermaid. The singer is deeply moved by the magic and beauty of the ocean, which touches their heart. The story of the fisherman and the mermaid sends chills down their spine, highlighting the power of the tale and the impact it has on them.
Overall, "Sereia Guiomar" is a celebration of the enchanting voice of the mermaid Guiomar and the spellbinding effect it has on those who encounter it. The song captures the allure of the sea, the power of myth, and the emotions provoked by these timeless legends.
Line by Line Meaning
A sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
Guiomar, the mermaid, resides in the deep sea
Ah, como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
Oh, my God, how beautiful is the song of this mermaid
O canto desta sereia fascina
The song of this mermaid captivates
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina
The song of this mermaid, my God, dominates
Mas fala na beira do cais que Manoel pescador
But it is said by the pier that Manoel, the fisherman
Ouvindo um canto tão lindo, por ele se apaixonou
Hearing such a beautiful song, he fell in love
Saiu correndo pro mar quando em noite de lua
Ran to the sea on a moonlit night
Envolvido no seu manto, o moço flutua
Wrapped in her embrace, the young man floats
E a sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
And Guiomar, the mermaid, resides in the deep sea
La la la la la la la la... mora em alto mar
La la la la la la la la... she resides in the deep sea
Quando o mistério do mar, me causa grande emoção
When the mystery of the sea fills me with great emotion
Encantamento e beleza que fere o meu coração
Enchantment and beauty that pierces my heart
História de pescador gela meu sangue nas veias
Fishermen's tales send shivers through my veins
Quando ele conta a lenda da bela sereia
When he tells the legend of the beautiful mermaid
E a sereia Guiomar mora em alto mar
And Guiomar, the mermaid, resides in the deep sea
E como é bonito, meu Deus, o canto desta sereia
Oh, my God, how beautiful is the song of this mermaid
O canto desta sereia fascina (axé)
The song of this mermaid captivates (axé)
O canto desta sereia, meu Deus, domina
The song of this mermaid, my God, dominates
Writer(s): Yvonne Lara Da Costa, Delcio Carvalho
Contributed by Avery L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.