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.
Retrato da Vida
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
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Essa estrada, esse rio seco
Essa dor que mora em mim
Não descansa e nem dorme cedo
O retrato da minha vida
É amar em segredo
Não quer saber de mim
E eu vivendo da tua vida
A esperança é quem me abriga
Esses campos não tardam em florir
Já se espera uma boa colheita
E tudo parece seguir
Fazendo a vida tão direita
Mas, e você o que faz
Que não repara no chão
Por onde tem que passar
E pisa em meu coração
O teu beijo em meu destino
Era tudo que eu queria
Ser meu homem, meu menino
O ser amado de todo dia
The lyrics to Elba Ramalho & Dominguinhos's song "Retrato da Vida" speak of the endless jungle, the dry river and the pain that resides within. The portrait of the singer's life is to love in secrecy, while the person they love doesn't care about their existence, and the singer continues to live their life through the loved one's life. The hope is what shelters the singer even though the fields are not flourishing, but hopefully, it will bring a good harvest. The singer questions the person they love, who doesn't seem to notice the ground they tread upon, the singer's heart, and the pain that brings. However, the memory of the person's kiss is still with the singer, and that is all they ever wanted - to be loved by the person they love every day, to be cherished, and to be their everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Esse matagal sem fim
This endless thicket
Essa estrada, esse rio seco
This road, this dry river
Essa dor que mora em mim
This pain that lives in me
Não descansa e nem dorme cedo
Doesn't rest and doesn't sleep early
O retrato da minha vida
The portrait of my life
É amar em segredo
Is to love in secret
Não quer saber de mim
Doesn't want to know about me
E eu vivendo da tua vida
And I live through your life
Deus no céu e você aqui
God in heaven and you here
A esperança é quem me abriga
Hope is who shelters me
Esses campos não tardam em florir
These fields don't delay in blooming
Já se espera uma boa colheita
A good harvest is already expected
E tudo parece seguir
And everything seems to follow
Fazendo a vida tão direita
Making life so right
Mas, e você o que faz
But, what about you, what do you do
Que não repara no chão
That doesn't notice the ground
Por onde tem que passar
Where you have to pass
E pisa em meu coração
And steps on my heart
O teu beijo em meu destino
Your kiss in my destiny
Era tudo que eu queria
Was everything I wanted
Ser meu homem, meu menino
To be my man, my boy
O ser amado de todo dia
The loved one every day
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jose Moraes, DJAVAN VIANA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind