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.
Fazê o Quê
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faiscando a ferradura
Na minha cabeça dura
E fui no lombo do cavalo
Ao galopá-lo
Fui salvando a minha vida
Que eu achava já perdida
Pelas esquinas do mundo
Menos médico, mais louco
Vai enchendo a cabeça
Pra que apareça
Agarrada no seu verso
Ideia prum universo
Mais tranquilo e mais humano
Traçando plano
Reta, curva ou ladeira
Bosque, várzea ou ribanceira
Vai seguindo o arquiteto
Se tem Hermeto
Bispo, Marley, gentileza
Isso só me dá certeza
Da nobreza que dá certo
Vou fazê, vou fazê
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Vou fazê, vou fazê
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Prendi as coisas
Faiscando a ferradura
Na minha cabeça dura
E fui no lombo do cavalo
Ao galopá-lo
Fui salvando a minha vida
Que eu achava já perdida
Pelas esquinas do mundo
De vagabundo, poeta tem muito pouco
Menos médico, mais louco
Vai enchendo a cabeça
Pra que apareça
Agarrada no seu verso
Ideia prum universo
Mais tranquilo e mais humano
Traçando plano
Reta, curva ou ladeira
Bosque, várzea ou ribanceira
Vai seguindo o arquiteto
Se tem Hermeto
Bispo, Marley, gentileza
Isso só me dá certeza
Da nobreza que dá certo
Vou fazê, vou fazê
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Vou fazê, vou fazê
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Vou fazê, vou fazê (o que?)
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Vou fazê, vou fazê (vou fazê)
Música pra enriquecer
Os corações e o planeta
Basta um papel e uma caneta
In "Fazê o Quê," Elba Ramalho sings about her determination to create music and use it as a tool for enriching people's hearts and the planet. The lyrics depict her journey as an artist and a poet, embracing her unconventional path and finding salvation through her creative expression.
The opening lines, "Prendi as coisas / Faiscando a ferradura / Na minha cabeça dura" can be understood as Elba Ramalho collecting inspirations and ideas, symbolized by gathering objects and sparks, in her stubborn and relentless mind. She then mounts a horse and gallops, metaphorically representing her pursuit of a life-saving path she thought she had lost. This reflects the challenges she faced along the streets of the chaotic world and the stigma she encountered as an unconventional artist, being considered more of a crazy and passionate poet than a respected professional like a doctor.
Elba Ramalho expresses her determination to fill her mind with thoughts and ideas that reflect on the verses she creates, aiming to shape a more peaceful and humane universe. The mention of influential figures like Hermeto Pascoal, Bob Marley, and "gentileza" (kindness) implies that their noble contributions give her a strong conviction that her own noble goals will surely come to fruition in the same way.
The chorus, "Vou fazê, vou fazê / Música pra enriquecer / Os corações e o planeta / Basta um papel e uma caneta" translates to "I will do it, I will do it / Music to enrich / Hearts and the planet / Just need paper and a pen." It emphasizes that Elba Ramalho's mission is to create music that enriches people's lives and contributes positively to the world. Through her dedication and creativity, she believes that writing lyrics on paper with a pen is all it takes to make a significant impact.
Overall, "Fazê o Quê" is a song that reflects Elba Ramalho's determination to pursue her artistic path, despite facing criticism and societal expectations. It highlights her belief in the power of music to bring positive change and serves as a reminder that even a simple pen and paper can be instruments for enriching hearts and the planet.
Line by Line Meaning
Prendi as coisas
I collected my thoughts
Faiscando a ferradura
Sparkling the horseshoe
Na minha cabeça dura
In my stubborn mind
E fui no lombo do cavalo
And I rode on the horse's back
Ao galopá-lo
While galloping it
Fui salvando a minha vida
I was saving my life
Que eu achava já perdida
Which I thought was already lost
Pelas esquinas do mundo
Through the corners of the world
De vagabundo, poeta tem muito pouco
A poet has very little of a vagabond
Menos médico, mais louco
Less doctor, more crazy
Vai enchendo a cabeça
Filling the mind
Pra que apareça
So it can appear
Agarrada no seu verso
Holding onto its verse
Ideia prum universo
Idea for a universe
Mais tranquilo e mais humano
More peaceful and more humane
Traçando plano
Drawing a plan
Reta, curva ou ladeira
Straight, curved or sloping
Bosque, várzea ou ribanceira
Forest, meadow or cliff
Vai seguindo o arquiteto
Following the architect
Se tem Hermeto
If there's Hermeto
Bispo, Marley, gentileza
Bishop, Marley, gentleness
Isso só me dá certeza
That only gives me certainty
Da nobreza que dá certo
Of the nobility that succeeds
Vou fazê, vou fazê
I'll do, I'll do
Música pra enriquecer
Music to enrich
Os corações e o planeta
The hearts and the planet
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Just need a paper and a pen
Vou fazê, vou fazê
I'll do, I'll do
Música pra enriquecer
Music to enrich
Os corações e o planeta
The hearts and the planet
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Just need a paper and a pen
Vou fazê, vou fazê (o que?)
I'll do, I'll do (what?)
Música pra enriquecer
Music to enrich
Os corações e o planeta
The hearts and the planet
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Just need a paper and a pen
Vou fazê, vou fazê (vou fazê)
I'll do, I'll do (I'll do)
Música pra enriquecer
Music to enrich
Os corações e o planeta
The hearts and the planet
Basta um papel e uma caneta
Just need a paper and a pen
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Pedro Luis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JOAO PAULO
Parabéns!!! Arrasou!! Perfeita!!
Miss Del Rey Sangalo
Eu to viciadoooooooooo nessa versão,Elba você é a rainhaaaaa do forró
Gabriela Azevedo
AMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
ALÊ
Perfect 😍
Tanny Brasil
Minhas desculpas Elba. Apesar de ser muito teu fã prefiro essa canção na versão do Ney Matogrosso. Espero que tenhas trazido o Lenine nesse novo trabalho. Abraços.
Gilmar Santos
Brigaduuuuuuuuuuu Elba tudo de bombommmmmmm pra oce tb beijussssssssss sua fa sempre Eliane Santos Felizzzzz 2015