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.
Leão Do Norte
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu sou Mateus e Bastião do Boi Bumbá
Sou o boneco do Mestre Vitalino
Dançando uma ciranda em Itamaracá
Eu sou um verso de Carlos Pena Filho
Num frevo de Capiba
Ao som da orquestra armorial
Sou Capibaribe
Sou mamulengo de São Bento do Una
Vindo no baque solto de um Maracatu
Eu sou um auto de Ariano Suassuna
No meio da Feira de Caruaru
Sou Frei Caneca do Pastoril do Faceta
Levando a flor da lira
Pra Nova Jerusalém
Sou Luis Gonzaga
E eu sou mangue também
Eu sou mameluco, sou de Casa Forte
Sou de Pernambuco, sou o Leão do Norte
Sou Macambira de Joaquim Cardoso
Banda de Pifo no meio do Carnaval
Na noite dos tambores silenciosos
Sou a calunga revelando o Carnaval
Sou a folia que desce lá de Olinda
O homem da meia-noite puxando esse cordão
Sou jangadeiro na festa de Jaboatão
Eu sou mameluco
, sou caboclo sim senhor
Que carrega em seu sangue a história e a cultura
De um povo guerreiro e batalhador
In the song "Leão do Norte" by Elba Ramalho, the lyrics celebrate and pay homage to the rich cultural heritage of the Northeastern region of Brazil. The lyrics are a testament to the various art forms, folk traditions, and cultural figures that have defined the region, from the dance of the Boi Bumbá and the puppetry of Mamulengo, to the literature of Carlos Pena Filho and João Cabral, the music of Luis Gonzaga, and the plays of Ariano Suassuna. The song acknowledges the different historical, social, and cultural influences that have shaped the region, including African, Amerindian, and European.
The song also reflects on the region's struggles and challenges, such as social inequalities and political injustices, as embodied by the figure of Frei Caneca, a Brazilian revolutionary who fought against slavery and colonial rule. Ultimately, the song celebrates the resilience and creativity of the Northeastern people, who have transformed their struggles into a source of inspiration and artistic expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Sou o coração do folclore nordestino
I am the essence of folk culture in Northeastern Brazil
Eu sou Mateus e Bastião do Boi Bumbá
I am Mateus and Bastião of the Boi Bumbá festival
Sou o boneco do Mestre Vitalino
I am the puppet of Master Vitalino, a famous artisan from Pernambuco
Dançando uma ciranda em Itamaracá
Dancing a traditional dance known as ciranda on the island of Itamaracá
Eu sou um verso de Carlos Pena Filho
I am a verse from the work of Carlos Pena Filho, a renowned poet from Recife
Num frevo de Capiba
In a frevo song composed by Capiba
Ao som da orquestra armorial
To the sound of the Armorial Orchestra, a group that blends classical music with folk elements
Sou Capibaribe
I am the Capibaribe River, which runs through the state of Pernambuco
Num livro de João Cabral
In a book by João Cabral de Melo Neto, a well-known poet from Pernambuco
Sou mamulengo de São Bento do Una
I am a puppet show from São Bento do Una, a town in Pernambuco
Vindo no baque solto de um Maracatu
Coming to the beat of a Maracatu, a traditional Afro-Brazilian music and dance style
Eu sou um auto de Ariano Suassuna
I am a play written by Ariano Suassuna, a famous playwright from Pernambuco
No meio da Feira de Caruaru
Performed in the middle of the famous Fair of Caruaru, one of the biggest in Brazil
Sou Frei Caneca do Pastoril do Faceta
I am Frei Caneca, a religious figure from the Pastoril do Faceta, a traditional folk play from Pernambuco
Levando a flor da lira
Bringing the beauty of traditional music and poetry
Pra Nova Jerusalém
To the city of Nova Jerusalém, where a famous passion play takes place every year
Sou Luis Gonzaga
I am Luiz Gonzaga, the king of baião and one of the most famous musicians from the Northeast of Brazil
E eu sou mangue também
And I am also the mangrove swamps that are so important to the ecology and culture of the region
Sou mameluco, sou de Casa Forte
I am of mixed heritage, like many in Pernambuco, and from the neighborhood of Casa Forte in Recife
Sou de Pernambuco, sou o Leão do Norte
I am from the state of Pernambuco, and I represent the strength and pride of the people of the Northeast, also known as the Lion of the North
Sou Macambira de Joaquim Cardoso
I am the Macambira plant, important in the region for its medicinal properties and named after a famous folklorist from Pernambuco, Joaquim Cardoso
Banda de Pifo no meio do Carnaval
I am the Pífano band, a group that plays traditional music on flutes during Carnival
Na noite dos tambores silenciosos
During the night of the silent drums, a traditional Afro-Brazilian religious festivity
Sou a calunga revelando o Carnaval
I am the calunga, an African-Brazilian doll used in religious and cultural celebrations, and I am here to showcase the beauty of Carnival
Sou a folia que desce lá de Olinda
I am the wild and colorful street party that descends from the town of Olinda during Carnival
O homem da meia-noite puxando esse cordão
I am the Homem da Meia-Noite, a giant puppet that leads the street party during Carnival in Olinda
Sou jangadeiro na festa de Jaboatão
I am a jangadeiro, a fisherman from Pernambuco, and I am here to celebrate at the festival of Jaboatão
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FeTorres93
Que letra ! Sou Carioca, mas ouvindo uma ode dessa queria ter nascido Pernambucano. Deus salve o Leão do Norte
MEL E JULIA PRIMAS
Venha meu fio! Cheiro!
Raphael Cardinot
Seja bem vindo
Amanda Davies
Já te considero Pernambucano de coração ❤️
Alysson Neves
@Diego Brito verdade!
Diego Brito
Nada impede de vc ser abraçado por nós.
Isaias Torres
Com qualquer voz está canção arrepia a alma de qualquer Pernambucano. Mesmo distante somos todos mamelucos
Bruno Isidoro
Realmente, quando se canta com a alma não importa quem esteja cantando.
Morgana Falcao
Salve meu Pernambuco, salve meu carnaval, salve Elba Ramalho!!! Eita não teremos essa energia esse ano.mas tenho certeza que no próximo será em dobro. 💃🏻🎶🎷🎭🎉💜
fé cultura e religião
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