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.
Baião
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vou subir a Penha a pé
Pra fazer minha oração
Vou pedir à Padroeira
Numa prece verdadeira
Que proteja o meu baião
Demonstrando a minha fé
Vou subir a Penha a pé
Pra fazer minha oração
Vou pedir à Padroeira
Numa prece verdadeira
Que proteja o meu baião
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
(Venha, venha)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
(Venha, venha)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
Nossa Senhora da Penha
Minha voz talvez não tenha
O poder de te exaltar
Mas dê bênção, Padroeira
Pra essa gente brasileira
Que quer paz pra trabalhar
Nossa Senhora da Penha
Minha voz talvez não tenha
O poder de te exaltar
Mas dê bênção, Padroeira
Pra essa gente brasileira
Que quer paz pra trabalhar
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
(Venha, venha)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
(Venha, venha)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
(Venha, venha)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
(Penha! Penha!) (Nossa Senhora da Penha)
(Nos cubra com o seu manto sagrado, traga paz pra o nosso país)
(Proteja nossas famílias, nossos filhos) (Penha, Penha)
Trazer paz pra o meu lar
The lyrics of Elba Ramalho's song "Baião" express a strong religious devotion and a plea for peace and protection. The singer demonstrates her faith by climbing the Penha hill on foot to offer her prayer. She seeks the intercession of the Patroness (Padroeira) in a sincere prayer, hoping that she will protect the "baião," which is a traditional Brazilian rhythm and dance.
The singer acknowledges that her voice may not have the power to exalt the Virgin Mary of Penha, but she asks for her blessing to be bestowed upon the Brazilian people who desire peace in their work. The repetition of the lines emphasizes the singer's determination to kneel and bring peace to her home by invoking the divine protection and guidance offered by the Patroness.
Overall, the lyrics convey a deep sense of devotion, humility, and the longing for peace in the singer's life and in her country. It reflects the fusion of religious beliefs and cultural traditions, as the "baião" is connected to the cultural identity and rhythms of Brazil.
Line by Line Meaning
Demonstrando a minha fé
Showing my faith
Vou subir a Penha a pé
I will climb Penha on foot
Pra fazer minha oração
To make my prayer
Vou pedir à Padroeira
I will ask the Patroness
Numa prece verdadeira
In a true prayer
Que proteja o meu baião
To protect my baião
(Penha! Penha!)
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
I came here to kneel
(Venha, venha)
(Come, come)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
Bring peace to my home
Nossa Senhora da Penha
Our Lady of Penha
Minha voz talvez não tenha
My voice may not have
O poder de te exaltar
The power to exalt you
Mas dê bênção, Padroeira
But give blessings, Patroness
Pra essa gente brasileira
For this Brazilian people
Que quer paz pra trabalhar
Who wants peace to work
(Penha! Penha!)
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
I came here to kneel
(Venha, venha)
(Come, come)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
Bring peace to my home
(Penha! Penha!)
(Penha! Penha!)
Eu vim aqui me ajoelhar
I came here to kneel
(Venha, venha)
(Come, come)
Trazer paz para o meu lar
Bring peace to my home
(Penha! Penha!) (Nossa Senhora da Penha)
(Penha! Penha!) (Our Lady of Penha)
(Nos cubra com o seu manto sagrado, traga paz pro nosso país)
(Cover us with your sacred mantle, bring peace to our country)
(Proteja nossas famílias, nossos filhos) (Penha, Penha)
(Protect our families, our children) (Penha, Penha)
Trazer paz pro meu lar
Bring peace to my home
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: David Nasser, Guiomarino Rubens De Duarte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruan Gabriel
2020 alguém aqui vendo esse ícone de Cantora , que energia!
Amo essa mulher
RENATA DA SILVA BEZERRA
2022 rsrsrd
Nilma Costa
0@Karlla Bastos
Adriana Barreto Pirelli
Eu tb amoooo!!
Weiticha Santa Fé
É IMPRESSIONANTE A ENERGIA DELA. O SHOW É UM ESPETÁCULO, ELA NÃO PARA, INTERAGE E DANÇA O TEMPO TODO COM O PÚBLICO . ADORO ESSE TIPO DE PERFORMANCE...
Karlla Bastos
Estou vendo agora.
Jose Medeiros
Ninguém tem o charme de Elba dançando forró! Rainha!!!!
Ana Paula Sales
Eita orgulho dessa mulher, Paraibana arrochada que nem eu 👏👏👏👏👏👏 esse aí é o verdade , autentico forro de zabumba, sanfona e triângulo , aquele que quando agente nordestino esculta , arrepia até a alma ❤️❤️❤️❤️😭
Adriana
Autenticidade!! Zabumba, triângulo e sanfona. Showww!! 🙌👏👏💃💃
Fabiana a hiperativa
Sensacional, quando os artistas são bons até a banda vai ao auge!