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.
Forró De Surubim
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
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No forró de Surubim
Pra fazer cuim
Para dar alteração
Por qualquer besteira
Puxa a faca, fura o fole
Vão lá dentro tomar gole
De cachaça com limão
Que é homem destemido
Não tem medo do perigo
Empunha a faca na mão
Faz uma rosca na ponta do bigode
Com ele ninguém pode
Só ele é valentão
Surubim diz que o forró
Só está mais animado
Quando o pau está comendo
Quando o fole está furado
Quando apaga o candeeiro
Quando é grande a confusão
Quando vê a concertina
Passando de mão em mão
Quando vê os bebo mole
De cachaça com limão
The lyrics of "Forró De Surubim" describe a party atmosphere in a small town in Brazil called Surubim. The song speaks about the joy of gathering together with friends and enjoying music, dancing, and drinks. The first verse talks about a group of men who are drinking and having a good time at the party, but if anything happens that upsets them, they are quick to pull out their knives and start fighting. Despite the potential danger, Surubim, a brave man in the town, is not afraid and stands ready to defend himself and his friends.
The chorus of the song mentions how the party is at its best when there is chaos and excitement. The lyrics encourage everyone to let loose and have fun, even if things get a little crazy. The last part of the song describes the scene of the party, where people are drinking and dancing to the sound of the concertina.
Overall, the song celebrates the culture of small-town Brazil, where people come together to enjoy music, dance, and each other's company. It reflects a sense of community and camaraderie, even in the face of danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Ajunta os bebo
Gather the drinkers
No forró de Surubim
At the forró of Surubim
Pra fazer cuim
To create a stir
Para dar alteração
To give excitement
Por qualquer besteira
For any nonsense
Puxa a faca, fura o fole
Pull out the knife, pierce the bellows
Vão lá dentro tomar gole
They go inside to take a sip
De cachaça com limão
Of cachaça with lime
Mas Surubim
But Surubim
Que é homem destemido
Who is a fearless man
Não tem medo do perigo
Is not afraid of danger
Empunha a faca na mão
Brandishes the knife in hand
Faz uma rosca na ponta do bigode
Makes a curl at the end of his mustache
Com ele ninguém pode
No one can beat him
Só ele é valentão
He alone is brave
Surubim diz que o forró
Surubim says that the forró
Só está mais animado
Is only more lively
Quando o pau está comendo
When the wood is splintering
Quando o fole está furado
When the bellows are pierced
Quando apaga o candeeiro
When the lamp is extinguished
Quando é grande a confusão
When the confusion is great
Quando vê a concertina
When he sees the concertina
Passando de mão em mão
Passing from hand to hand
Quando vê os bebo mole
When he sees the drinkers drunk
De cachaça com limão
Of cachaça with lime
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.