Elba Maria Nunes Ramalho (born August 17, 1951 in Conceição, Paraíba, Brazi… Read Full Bio ↴Elba Maria Nunes Ramalho (born August 17, 1951 in Conceição, Paraíba, Brazil), best known as Elba Ramalho, is a Brazilian MPB singer, songwriter, performer, multi-instrumentalist and actress. Her musical style is characteristic for the traditional sounds of the Northeastern region of Brazil, such as baião, xote, xaxado, frevo, forró, and others.

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.

Mulher rendeira
Elba Ramalho Lyrics

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Olê, mulé rendeira
Olê, mulé rendá
Tu me ensina a fazer renda
Que eu te ensino a namorá

Andei o sertão inteiro
Levando um menino bom

Sou mulé de muita briga
Não há quem me diga não

Olê, mulé rendeira
Olê, mulé renda
Chorou, por mim não fica
Soluçou, vai no borná

Mulé de cangaceiro
Não tem medo de careta
Quando vê a coisa preta
Sai rolando pelo chão

Põe o dedo no gatilho
Toca fogo no sertão
Tenente perde a patente
Coroné perde o galão

Meu sangue corre nas veia
Coração sai do lugar

Nos macaco da puliça
Mando bala pra matá

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elba Ramalho's song "Mulher rendeira" depict a strong and self-assured woman who is skilled in the art of lace-making. The opening verse, "Olê, mulé rendeira, Olê, mulé rendá," serves as a playful call and response, emphasizing the woman's proficiency in lace-making. The next line, "Tu me ensina a fazer renda, Que eu te ensino a namorá," suggests a playful exchange between the woman and a potential suitor. She offers to teach him the art of lace-making in exchange for him teaching her the art of love.

The following verse, "Andei o sertão inteiro, Levando um menino bom, Sou mulé de muita briga, Não há quem me diga não," portrays the woman in a rebellious and fearless manner. She describes traveling across the countryside with a good young man, indicating that she is not one to back down from a fight and does not easily take no for an answer.

As the song continues, the lyrics highlight the woman's association with outlaws, emphasizing her lack of fear and resistance to authority. The lines, "Mulé de cangaceiro, Não tem medo de careta, Quando vê a coisa preta, Sai rolando pelo chão," suggest that she is a companion to a bandit or rebel and is not intimidated by anyone. When faced with a dangerous situation, she cleverly escapes by rolling on the ground.

The subsequent verse, "Põe o dedo no gatilho, Toca fogo no sertão, Tenente perde a patente, Coroné perde o galão," further reinforces the woman's association with outlaws as she is depicted as someone who is willing to take matters into her own hands. The lyrics suggest that she is capable of pulling the trigger, causing chaos and disrupting the established hierarchy.

The final verse, "Meu sangue corre nas veia, Coração sai do lugar, Nos macaco da puliça, Mando bala pra matá," depicts the woman's intense and fiery nature. Her blood runs through her veins, causing her heart to race and overpower her. She describes herself as someone who is willing to open fire on corrupt police officers, indicating her lack of fear and her determination to fight for what she believes in.

Line by Line Meaning

Olê, mulé rendeira
Oh, woman lace-maker

Olê, mulé rendá
Oh, woman lace-creator

Tu me ensina a fazer renda
You teach me how to make lace

Que eu te ensino a namorá
And I'll teach you how to court

Andei o sertão inteiro
I walked through the entire backcountry

Levando um menino bom
Guiding a good boy

Sou mulé de muita briga
I am a woman of many fights

Não há quem me diga não
There is no one who can tell me no

Chorou, por mim não fica
Crying, doesn't make me stay

Soluçou, vai no borná
Sobbing, go away

Mulé de cangaceiro
Woman of a bandit