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.
Batida de Trem / Toque de Fole
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
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Aperriado com a sorte
Felicidade não vem
É uma cantiga de cego
É uma sanfona tocando
Parece batida de trem
Sou cantador da alegria
Me chamam de andorinha
Estrela da primavera
Pra onde for vou com ela
Pra esquecer da solidão
Pra entrar nesse forró
Vem meu amor
Do seu nego tenha dó
Vem meu amor
Ponha a mão no coração
Vem meu amor
Pra meu bem não ficar só
Vem meu amor
Pra entrar nesse forró
Vem meu amor
Do seu nego tenha dó
Vem meu amor
Ponha a mão no coração
Vem meu amor
Pra meu bem não ficar só
Vem meu amor
Toque sanfoneiro
Um forró bem animado
Com cadência de xaxado
Da poeira levantar
Toque sanfoneiro
As mulheres estão visando
O fole frouxo tocando
Castigando a nota lá
Toque sanfoneiro
Mostre que é velho macho
Capricho nos oito baixos
Até o dia clarear
Toque sanfoneiro
Toque porque
A gente quer se esbaldar
Toque sanfoneiro
Toque porque
A gente quer dançar
Dedo no couro é pandeirada
Mão na zabumba é zabumbada
E no triângulo é trianglada
Dedo no fole é forrozada
Dedo no couro é pandeirada
Mão na zabumba é zabumbada
E no triângulo é trianglada
Dedo no fole é forrozada
These lyrics are from the song "Batida de Trem / Toque de Fole" by Elba Ramalho. The song is in the traditional Brazilian musical style known as forró. The lyrics express a sense of longing and the search for happiness. The singer describes himself as a joyful singer, known as "andorinha" (swallow) in the parties of the sertão (backlands). He seeks the company of his love to forget his loneliness and invites them to join him in the forró dance. The song also pays homage to the sanfoneiro, the accordion player, and the energetic and lively nature of the forró music.
The first verse reflects the singer's frustration with his luck and the realization that happiness is not easily attained. The metaphor of a blind man's song and an accordion playing like a train beat emphasize the struggle and intensity of life. The chorus repeats the invitation to the singer's love to join him in the forró, pleading for their presence to prevent him from being alone.
The second verse praises the accordion player, inviting him to play a lively forró that can make the dust rise. The mention of women admiring the loose accordion playing adds a touch of flirtation and celebration. The subsequent verses highlight the different rhythms and sounds produced by various instruments in forró music, such as the pandeiro (tambourine), zabumba (bass drum), and triangle, as well as the unique sound of the accordion.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of joy, longing, and the desire for companionship and celebration that is characteristic of forró music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cantando esse baião
Singing this baião
Aperriado com a sorte
Distressed with luck
Felicidade não vem
Happiness doesn't come
É uma cantiga de cego
It's a blind man's song
É uma sanfona tocando
It's an accordion playing
Parece batida de trem
It sounds like a train rhythm
Sou cantador da alegria
I am a singer of joy
Me chamam de andorinha
They call me a swallow
Nas festas lá do sertão
In the parties of the backlands
Estrela da primavera
Spring star
Pra onde for vou com ela
Wherever she goes, I'll go with her
Pra esquecer da solidão
To forget about loneliness
Pra entrar nesse forró
To join this forró
Vem meu amor
Come, my love
Do seu nego tenha dó
Have mercy on your black man
Ponha a mão no coração
Put your hand on your heart
Pra meu bem não ficar só
So my beloved won't stay alone
Toque sanfoneiro
Play, accordion player
Um forró bem animado
A very lively forró
Com cadência de xaxado
With a xaxado rhythm
Da poeira levantar
Raising the dust
As mulheres estão visando
The women are looking
O fole frouxo tocando
The loose bellows playing
Castigando a nota lá
Punishing that note
Mostre que é velho macho
Show that you're a true man
Capricho nos oito baixos
Perfection in the eight bass notes
Até o dia clarear
Until the day brightens
Pra meu bem não ficar só
So my beloved won't stay alone
Dedo no couro é pandeirada
Finger on the leather is tambourine playing
Mão na zabumba é zabumbada
Hand on the zabumba is zabumbada
E no triângulo é trianglada
And on the triangle is trianglada
Dedo no fole é forrozada
Finger on the accordion is forrozada
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sebastia Tavares Calixto, Hermelinda Almeida Lopes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind