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.

Patchuli
Elba Ramalho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Que cheiro bom é esse que eu to sentindo aqui?
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
Cheira que nem fogueira que queima no Cariri
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
Cheiro de mato queimado que foi para no roçado
Que há dentro de mim e ti
Eta cheiro bem e danado parece um sonho acordado
Que se sonha sem dormír

Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
Que cheiro bom é esse que eu to sentindo aqui?
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
Cheira que nem fogueira que queima no Cariri
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli

Nesse baile perfumado desde quando to parado
O chão parece bulir
Sou do ouro empariado danço sem senti enfado
Na dança do patchuli
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
Que cheiro bom é esse que eu to sentindo aqui?
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli

Cheira que nem fogueira que queima no Cariri
Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elba Ramalho's song Patchuli describe the sensation of a pleasant scent that fills the air. The singer wonders what the source of the smell is and soon realizes that it is the aroma of the Patchouli plant, which is known for its distinct musky fragrance. The scent is compared to that of a burning fire in the Cariri region of Brazil, further emphasizing its potency. The scent is described as being reminiscent of burnt foliage that has made its way into the fields and the hearts of people.

As the song progresses, the singer describes the impact that the scent has on the surroundings. It has transformed a simple gathering into a perfumed ball, where even the ground seems to move to the beat of the music. The singer then surrenders to the sensation and moves to the rhythm of the dance, free from any sense of worry or boredom. The dance is the "patchuli," which seems to be both the cause and the effect of the scent.

Line by Line Meaning

Que cheiro bom é esse que eu to sentindo aqui?
What is this amazing smell that I am experiencing?

Patchuli, patchuli, patchuli, patchuli
It's patchouli, a fragrant oil.

Cheira que nem fogueira que queima no Cariri
It smells like a bonfire burning in the Cariri region.

Cheiro de mato queimado que foi para no roçado
The scent is that of burnt foliage that travelled to the farmland.

Que há dentro de mim e ti
There is something inside you and me that is awakened by this scent.

Eta cheiro bem e danado parece um sonho acordado
The scent is so magical and intense, it seems like a waking dream.

Que se sonha sem dormír
Something you can dream of without sleeping.

Nesse baile perfumado desde quando to parado
In this perfumed dance, even standing still makes the ground move.

O chão parece bulir
The ground feels like it's alive.

Sou do ouro empariado danço sem senti enfado
I am entranced and dance without feeling tired.

Na dança do patchuli
I am dancing to the scent of patchouli.