Dorival Caymmi (born April 30, 1914 in Salvador, Bahia - August 16, 2008, R… Read Full Bio ↴Dorival Caymmi (born April 30, 1914 in Salvador, Bahia - August 16, 2008, Rio de Janeiro) is considered to be one to the most important songwriters in Brazilian popular music. The son of an Italian immigrant and a black Bahian woman, he has a distinctive style of his own and is the writer of many classic songs. The sambas, such as 'O Samba Da Minha Terra', have become standards of Música Popular Brasileira. He also wrote ballads celebrating the fearless fishermen of Bahia, including Promessa de Pescador and O Vento.

Although his songs celebrate the people of Bahia and he himself is enshrined in the popular Brazilian imagination as the archetypal Bahian, he moved to Rio de Janeiro to find fame in the 1930's and never moved back to Bahia.

He became a contemporary and sometimes rival of composer Ary Barroso and enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Bahian author Jorge Amado. Dorival Caymmi first achieved success in the late 1930s with Carmen Miranda, for whom he composed 'O Que é Que a Baiana Tem?'. He recorded for five decades, both singing solo with his own guitar accompaniment, and backed by bands and orchestras. In the 1960s many of his songs were covered by bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto, and he collaborated with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Among the many musicians heavily influenced by Dorival Caymmi are Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.

Dorival Caymmi passed away at age 94 on August 16, 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, of multiple organ failure. He is survived by three children, all of whom are in the prominent musicians: Nana, Danilo and Dori Caymmi.

Maracangalha
Dorival Caymmi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só

Eu vou pra Maracangalha
Eu vou
Eu vou de liforme branco

Eu vou
Eu vou de chapéu de palha
Eu vou
Eu vou convidar Anália
Eu vou
Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só sem Anália, mas eu vou

Eu vou pra Maracangalha
Eu vou
Eu vou de liforme branco
Eu vou
Eu vou de chapéu de palha
Eu vou
Eu vou convidar Anália
Eu vou
Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só sem Anália, mas eu vou

Eu vou
Eu vou
Eu vou
Eu vou

Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Se Anália não quiser ir
Eu vou só
Eu vou só
Eu vou só sem Anália, mas eu vou

Eu vou pra Maracangalha
Eu vou
Eu vou de liforme branco
Eu vou
Eu vou de chapéu de palha
Eu vou
Eu vou convidar Anália
Eu vou
Eu vou só
Eu vou só

Eu vou só
Eu vou só

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dorival Caymmi's Maracangalha talk about going to the town of Maracangalha, dressed in a white uniform and wearing a straw hat, and inviting someone named Anália to accompany the singer. The repetition of "Eu vou só" (I'm going alone) suggests that the singer is willing to go to Maracangalha even if Anália does not want to go with him. Despite the possibility of going alone, the singer insists on inviting Anália, indicating a desire for her company.

Maracangalha is a place full of music, dancing, and joy, as evidenced by the cheerful rhythm of the song. It is a place where the singer can escape his problems and enjoy life. The repetition of "Eu vou" (I'm going) shows determination and excitement to reach this place of happiness.

The song can also be interpreted as a love song, as the singer's invitation to Anália suggests a desire for a deeper relationship. However, the ultimate message of the song is about finding joy and freedom despite one's circumstances.

Overall, the lyrics of Maracangalha celebrate Brazilian culture and the joy of living, even in difficult circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu vou só
I am going alone

Eu vou pra Maracangalha
I am going to Maracangalha

Eu vou de liforme branco
I am going dressed in white uniform

Eu vou de chapéu de palha
I am going wearing a straw hat

Eu vou convidar Anália
I am going to invite Anália

Se Anália não quiser ir
If Anália doesn't want to come

Eu vou só
I will go alone

Se Anália não quiser ir
If Anália doesn't want to come

Eu vou só
I will go alone

Eu vou só sem Anália, mas eu vou
I will go alone without Anália, but I will go