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.
Vida
Elba Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu já te amava assim
Antes que tu nascesses
Já te queria pra mim
Antes que no ventre fosses formado
Eu já estava em ti
E já te havia consagrado
A ir falar por mim
Tua vida é preciosa para mim
Tua vida é preciosa para mim
Oh, oh tu foste gerado no amor
Oh, oh tu és semelhança do amor
Ainda que tua mãe esquecesse de ti
Eu não te deixaria esquecido por aí
Oh, oh tu foste gerado no amor
Oh, oh tu és semelhança do amor.
In Elba Ramalho's song Vida, the lyrics speak of a deep and unconditional love that existed even before the person was born. The lines "Antes que tu nascesses/Eu já te amava assim" (Before you were born/I already loved you like this) and "Antes que tu nascesses/Já te queria pra mim" (Before you were born/I already wanted you for me) express the idea that the singer's love for the person, whom she refers to as "you," predates their actual existence in the world. The lyrics suggest that this love is not limited by time or circumstance and that it is founded upon a strong spiritual bond.
The lines "Tua vida é preciosa para mim" (Your life is precious to me) and "Oh, oh tu foste gerado no amor/Tu és semelhança do amor" (Oh, oh you were generated in love/You are the likeness of love) further emphasize the depth and significance of this love. The singer seems to be speaking from a divine or higher perspective, implying that the person's life is important not just to her, but to a greater purpose or plan. The message of the song is one of affirmation and encouragement, reminding the person that they are loved and valued, even if they may feel forgotten or overlooked by others.
Line by Line Meaning
Antes que tu nascesses
Even before you were born
Eu já te amava assim
I already loved you then
Antes que no ventre fosses formado
Even before you were formed in the womb
Eu já estava em ti
I was already in you
E já te havia consagrado
And I had already consecrated you
A ir falar por mim
To go speak for me
Tua vida é preciosa para mim
Your life is precious to me
Oh, oh tu foste gerado no amor
Oh, oh you were born in love
Oh, oh tu és semelhança do amor
Oh, oh you are the likeness of love
Ainda que tua mãe esquecesse de ti
Even if your mother forgot about you
Eu não te deixaria esquecido por aí
I wouldn't let you be forgotten
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nav& M2e
Coisa linda de se ouvir
wanda grille
Maravilhosa musica de Gil na voz maravilhosa de Elba...
Nav& M2e
Elba Ramalho RAINHAAAA
Jose Abel
minha conterrâneo Elba Ramalho orgulha a Paraíba por toda trajetória de sucessos
José Cândido
Amo amo amo
BARCELONISTA ROXÍSSIMO
De fato a composição desta música não é de Gilberto Gil, mas sim de dois componentes do Grupo OBINA SHOCK, em cujo Long Play/ Cassete está esta música. Gravação Original: (P) 1.987 RCA - BMG Ariola Discos Ltda; / Gravação da Elba: (P) 1.991 Polygram Discos Ltda. / Divisão Philips Records.