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.
Estrela Soberana
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Divina luz
Clara manhã
Que nos conduz
Aos céus, estrela soberana
Maria, Miriam, me chama
Acalma e banha
A minha pobre alma
Estrela d'água
Rainha e paz
Estrela, estrela
Do amor demais
Senhora, doce esplendor
Derrama o mel de tua flor
E abraça a terra com o seu manto azul
Aromas, bálsamos de amor
Senhora mãe
The first verse of Elba Ramalho's song Estrela Soberana pays homage to the Virgin Mary, also known as Senhora mãe, or "Lady Mother." The lyrics describe her as a "divine light" and "clear morning" that guides us to heaven, serving as a "sovereign star." The repetition of different names for Mary, namely Maria and Miriam, suggests a sense of familiarity and intimacy with her. The lyrics ask for her calming and purifying presence to "bathe" the singer's "poor soul" in the waters of her heart.
The second verse continues to praise the Virgin Mary as the "star of water" and "queen of peace." The repetition of "estrela," meaning "star" in Portuguese, draws a connection between Mary and the night sky, which is frequently used as a metaphor for the divine. The lyrics implore her to spread the "honey" of her flower (perhaps a metaphor for her grace or blessings) and embrace the earth with her "blue mantle," symbolizing protection and love. The final line of the song confidently refers to Mary as the lady mother again, repeating the title from the first verse and affirming her importance and presence in the singer's life.
Overall, Ramalho's Estrela Soberana is a deeply religious song that exalts the Virgin Mary as a guiding light and source of comfort and purification.
Line by Line Meaning
Senhora mãe
Addressing the divine motherly figure
Divina luz
A representation of their belief in a higher power and spirituality
Clara manhã
The start of a new day, filled with hope and optimism
Que nos conduz
Guiding them towards their journey
Aos céus, estrela soberana
A reference to the supreme ruler of the heavens, who is their guiding star
Maria, Miriam, me chama
Calling upon the divine mother, who also goes by the name Mary or Miriam
Acalma e banha
Asking to be soothed and cleansed
A minha pobre alma
The core of their being, in need of help and salvation
Nas águas do seu coração
Surrendering themselves to the divine, to be cleansed and renewed
Estrela d'água
A reference to the source of life, represented by water
Rainha e paz
The queen of peace, who brings tranquility and harmony
Estrela, estrela
The repeated phrase emphasizes the importance of this guiding star
Do amor demais
A love that surpasses all others, a love that is spiritual and all-encompassing
Senhora, doce esplendor
Addressing the divine motherly figure once again, describing her as a warm and gentle presence
Derrama o mel de tua flor
Asking to be blessed with the sweet nectar of her flower, in other words, to be granted her love and grace
E abraça a terra com o seu manto azul
Encompassing the world with her love and protection, represented by a blue mantle
Aromas, bálsamos de amor
The scents and healing power of her love, which is restorative and rejuvenating
Senhora mãe
Reaffirming their faith in the divine motherly figure
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.