Brazilian guitarist and singer. The son of Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris … Read Full Bio ↴Brazilian guitarist and singer. The son of Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris and brother of Nana Caymmi and Danilo Caymmi's studied piano, guitar and music theory since childhood. His professional debut happened when he accompanied sister Nana on a concert. His main influence comes from his father, João Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. In the 1960s, he became a producer, arranger and musical director. His career as a songwriter stood out in that same period, when he had songs interpreted by MPB-4 ("Cantigo"), Nana Caymmi ("Saveiros", with Nelson Motta) and Elis Regina ("O Cantador", with Nelson Motta) in festivals. In the 1970s, he wrote music scores for movies and television shows, and in the 80s he turned toward the international market, settling in Los Angeles. Dori's peculiar way of playing the guitar, with unconventional tunings and creative harmonies, has helped projecting his career outside of Brasil. Other hits: "De Onde Vens" (with N. Motta), recorded by Elis and Nara Leão, and "Festa", recorded by Jair Rodrigues, Elis and Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66.

Alegre Menina
Dori Caymmi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O que fizeste, sultão
De minha alegre menina?

Palácio real lhe dei
Um trono de pedraria
Sapato bordado a ouro,
Esmeraldas e rubis
Ametista para os dedos,

Vestidos de diamantes
Escravas para serví-la,
Um lugar no meu dossel
E a chamei de rainha,
Ea chamei de rainha

O que fizeste, sultão
De minha alegre menina?

Só desejava a campina
Colher as flores do mato
Só desejava um espelho
De vidro prá se mirar
Só desejava do sol
Calor para bem viver
Só desejava o luar
De prata prá repousar
Só desejava o amor
Dos homens prá bem amar
Só desejava o amor
Dos homens prá bem amar

No baile real levei
A tua alegre menina
Vestida de realeza
Com princesas conversou
Com doutores praticou
Cançou a dança faceira
Bebeu o vinho mais caro
Mordeu fruta estrangeira
Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha mais verdadeira

Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha mais verdadeira

Overall Meaning

In Dori Caymmi's song Alegre Menina, the singer sings about a sultan who has taken away his joyful girl. The lyrics question the sultan's actions, wondering why he took her away from a simple life of picking flowers in fields and instead gave her a royal palace, diamonds, and servants. The sultan crowned her as queen but in doing so, took away her freedom and happiness. The singer acknowledges that the girl may have enjoyed the royal life for a while, but ultimately, she craved the simple things in life like the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the silver moon, and the love of men.

The song speaks of the importance of maintaining one's values, dreams, and desires, and not being seduced by the glitz and glamor of materialistic possessions or social status. It highlights how society can pressure people to conform to a certain image or idea of success, which can be detrimental to one's contentment and satisfaction. The song's message is powerful in its simplicity; it tells a story of a girl who wanted only simple things and was taken away from that by society's idea of what would make her happy.

Line by Line Meaning

O que fizeste, sultão
What have you done, sultan

De minha alegre menina?
To my joyful girl?

Palácio real lhe dei
I gave her a royal palace

Um trono de pedraria
A throne adorned with precious stones

Sapato bordado a ouro,
Shoes embroidered with gold,

Esmeraldas e rubis
Emeralds and rubies

Ametista para os dedos,
Amethyst for her fingers,

Vestidos de diamantes
Diamond dresses

Escravas para serví-la,
Slaves to serve her,

Um lugar no meu dossel
A place at my canopy

E a chamei de rainha,
And I called her queen,