Elba Ramalho was born in the rural area of Conceição, in Vale do Piancó. In 1962, the family moved to the city of Campina Grande, also in Paraíba. Her father became the owner of the local theater. Daughter of a musician, she became interested in music still as a teenager.
In 1966, she participated, for the first time, in a performance on stage, in the Choir of the Fundação Artística e Cultural Manuel Bandeira, of which she was a member, with "Evocação do Recife". The Manuel Bandeira and Cecília Meireles Talking Choirs gained fame and started to be seen all over the Northeast, and Elba, who made her first presentation on stage together with them, soon became the highlight in the presentations. She starred in the poetic montages of Castro Alves, Thiago de Mello, Lindolfo Bell, Carlos Pena Filho and Figueiredo Agra. He participated in the montages of the plays "Ministro do Supremo" and "Diálogo das Carmelitas."
In 1968, while attending college of Economics and Sociology at the Federal University of Paraíba, she formed the ensemble As Brasas, in which she acted as drummer, which later became a theater group. However, Elba never stopped singing, and performed in several festivals throughout the Northeast.
In 1979, she released her first album, "Ave de Prata", and since then she has consolidated her position as one of the main Brazilian singers in activity. On her father's side, she is a cousin of fellow singer Zé Ramalho.
She has two Latin Grammys for her albums: Qual o Assunto Que Mais Lhe importa?, released in 2008, and Balaio de Amor, 2009, in the category Best Brazilian Roots Album: Regional and Tropical. In over 35 years of career, Elba Ramalho has sold more than 10 million albums. She received from the Art Critics Association of São Paulo the award "Best Show of the Year" on two occasions: in 1989 for the show Popular Brasileira and in 1996 for the show Leão do Norte.
Ai de Mim
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quem iria lá na cruz perdoar os meus pecados
Soltai à Barrabás, crucificai Jesus
E por isso a minh' alma tem luz
(Refrão)
Oh Jesus, meu Senhor
Uma lança ao teu lado furou
Quem iria em meu lugar, Jesus
Ai de mim se Jesus não tivesse me amado
Ai de mim se Jesus não tivesse ressucitado,
Mas Jesus ressucitou e para o céu voltou
Glorioso foi preparar lugar
The lyrics to Elba Ramalho's song "Ai de Mim" express the profound gratitude of the singer for the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. The singer laments the judgment that led to Jesus' crucifixion, recognizing that if it weren't for the crowd's decision to choose to release Barrabás instead of Jesus, there would have been no one to forgive them for their sins. However, the singer understands that it was precisely through Jesus' death that they have been given a light in their souls.
The refrain of the song emphasizes the singer's gratitude and awe for what Jesus has done for them. They recognize the physical pain that Jesus endured for their sake, noting the wound left by the lance that pierced his side, and recognize that without Jesus' death they would be utterly lost. The final verse brings hope, acknowledging that Jesus' resurrection and ascension to heaven signal the glory that awaits them in the afterlife.
Overall, "Ai de Mim" is a deeply religious song that emphasizes the importance of Jesus' sacrifice and the gratitude that believers should feel for this sacrifice. It is a song that reflects on the power of forgiveness and redemption, recognizing the transformative role that Jesus' death and resurrection can play in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ai de mim se a turba não tivesse te julgado
Oh how lost I would be if the crowd hadn't judged you
Quem iria lá na cruz perdoar os meus pecados
Who would have gone to the cross to forgive my sins
Soltai à Barrabás, crucificai Jesus
Let Barabbas go, crucify Jesus
E por isso a minh' alma tem luz
And that's why my soul has light
(Refrão)
Chorus
Oh Jesus, meu Senhor
Oh Jesus, my Lord
Uma lança ao teu lado furou
A spear pierced your side
Ai de mim se não fosse a tua morte lá na cruz
Oh how lost I would be if it weren't for your death on the cross
Quem iria em meu lugar, Jesus
Who would have taken my place, Jesus
Ai de mim se Jesus não tivesse me amado
Oh how lost I would be if Jesus hadn't loved me
Ai de mim se Jesus não tivesse ressucitado
Oh how lost I would be if Jesus hadn't risen
Mas Jesus ressucitou e para o céu voltou
But Jesus rose and returned to heaven
Glorioso foi preparar lugar
Gloriously, he prepared a place
Contributed by Gavin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.