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.
Palavra De Mulher
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Haja o que houver, eu vou voltar
Já te deixei jurando nunca mais olhar pra trás
Palavra de mulher, eu vou voltar
Posso até
Sair de bar em bar, em bar, falar besteira
E me enganar
Com qualquer um deitar
A noite inteira
Eu vou te amar
Vou chegar
A qualquer hora ao meu lugar
E se uma outra pretendia
Um dia te roubar
Dispensa essa vadia
Eu vou voltar
Vou subir
A nossa escada, a escada, a escada, a escada
Meu amor, eu vou partir
De novo e sempre, feito viciada
Eu vou voltar
Pode ser
Que a nossa história
Seja mais uma quimera
E pode o nosso teto, a lapa, o rio desabar
Pode ser
Que passe o nosso tempo
Como qualquer primavera
Espera
Me espera
Eu vou voltar
The lyrics of Elba Ramalho's song "Palavra De Mulher" depict a woman who is committed to her love and vows to return to her partner no matter what obstacles come her way. She acknowledges that she may make mistakes and indulge in temporary pleasures, such as going to bars and engaging in casual encounters, but her word as a woman is her bond and she will always come back to her beloved. The repetition of "eu vou voltar" reinforces her determination to return, even if their relationship is just a fleeting moment in time or if the world around them crumbles.
The lyrics also express a sense of ownership over her partner and a dismissive attitude towards any other potential romantic interests. The line "dispensa essa vadia" directly tells her partner to reject any other woman who tries to steal him away, further emphasizing her possessive nature. The imagery of the "escada," or staircase, suggests a desire to physically ascend to her partner's level and a willingness to put in the effort to make things right between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Vou voltar
No matter what happens, I promise to come back
Haja o que houver, eu vou voltar
I will return, regardless of any difficulties or obstacles
Já te deixei jurando nunca mais olhar pra trás
I left you with a promise to never look back
Palavra de mulher, eu vou voltar
I am giving you my word as a woman that I will return
Posso até
I may even
Sair de bar em bar, em bar, falar besteira
Go from bar to bar, talking nonsense
E me enganar
And deceive myself
Com qualquer um deitar
Sleep with anyone
A noite inteira
All night long
Eu vou te amar
But I will still love you
Vou chegar
I will arrive
A qualquer hora ao meu lugar
At any time to where I belong
E se uma outra pretendia
And if another woman tries
Um dia te roubar
To steal you away one day
Dispensa essa vadia
Don't give that slut the time of day
Eu vou voltar
Because I will come back
Vou subir
I will climb
A nossa escada, a escada, a escada, a escada
Our staircase, the one we share
Meu amor, eu vou partir
My love, I am leaving once again
De novo e sempre, feito viciada
Again and always, like an addict
Eu vou voltar
I will return
Pode ser
It could be
Que a nossa história
That our story
Seja mais uma quimera
Is just another fantasy
E pode o nosso teto, a lapa, o rio desabar
And even if our roof, or the hill, or the river collapse
Pode ser
It could be
Que passe o nosso tempo
That our time together passes
Como qualquer primavera
Like any other spring
Espera
But wait
Me espera
Please wait for me
Eu vou voltar
Because I will return
Lyrics © UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING,
Written by: CHICO BUARQUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luizjesus831
Não canso de ver essa apresentação da Elba,essa mulher cantando essa música é tudo,é poesia,é verdade,isso é Elba.
@futebolahistoria3917
Sou fascinado por Elba Ramalho! Grande cantora do nosso país, riqueza viva do nordeste. Viva Elba Ramalho! Poderosa voz.
@andresilveira5523
Elba Ramalho grande cantora da música popular brasileira. Uma artista completa , reúne nessa mulher talento, carisma, genialidade, musicalidade, fortaleza, dramaticidade, docilidade, afinação de uma voz estridente que atravessa e conquista gerações com sua arte. Viva grande Elba!
@TatyDakar
... da vontade de chorar com a interpretaçao dela... magnificamente linda, Elba!
@NilsonNobre1
Que introdução! QUE INTERPRETAÇÃO!
@ElbaLu100
Cantora, música e acompanhamento, tudo Maravilhoso !
@lilianribeiro8799
Quem está assistindo em 2017 da um up, que interpretação que voz, que mulher!
@ppmbbarbosa
Pode ser que passe o nosso tempo
Como qualquer primavera
Espera, espera
Eu vou voltar!
@dircemotta2685
Magnífica interpretação! Elba Ramalho em sua melhor forma! Arranjo musical excelente!
@lilianribeiro8799
Que voz, que interpretação, essa mulher é uma deusa, na forma humana e displicente...... Amote Elba!