A core member of the Jovem Guarda ("Young Guard") scene of 1960's Brazilian pop-rock, Erasmo often appeared on television, in magazines and feature films with fellow teen idols Roberto Carlos and Wanderléa.
In contrast to his simpler pop-rock early sound, Erasmo went on to produce several of the more moody and introspective MPB records of the 1970's, including "Sonhos e Memórias" and "Carlos, Erasmo".
Carlos died on 22 November 2022, at the age of 81.
Mané João
Erasmo Carlos Lyrics
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De Mané João
Toda brincadeira
Acabou no chão
Tinha inimigo no meio do salão
Zé da Capoeira fazendo exibição
Tinha cabelo grande mas não tinha molho
Escondeu Margarida na cortina
E gritou: "Ninguém transa com a menina!"
E só terminou a brincadeira
Com o sangue escorrendo na ladeira
E era muito sangue pra pouca ladeira
Lá na gafieira
The lyrics of the song 'Mané João' by Erasmo Carlos talk about an embittered situation that happened at a nightclub or gafieira, owned by a man called Mané João. The party that was going on was brought to an abrupt end when there was a scuffle on the dance floor, apparently caused by someone's enemy. Zé da Capoeira, a capoeira performer was said to have been involved in the altercation. Amid all these events, a man with long hair caught Mané's attention, but he lacked charisma. Mané hid Margarida, a woman, behind a curtain and declared that no one should be intimate with her. The fight ended with a lot of bloodshed on the street. Hence, the song tells the story of the brawl that took place and its aftermath at the club.
The lyrics of the song 'Mané João' by Erasmo Carlos seem to glorify the Brazilian music genre of gafieira music, which was popular in Brazil from the 1920s to the 1950s. The lyrics discuss an incident in a gafieira, a traditional dance hall, which was often frequented by working-class people. However, the lyrics show that the dance floor was not always a place of joy and happiness but could also be a site of violence and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Lá na gafieira
In the ballroom
De Mané João
Belonging to Mané João
Toda brincadeira
Every joke
Acabou no chão
Ended up on the ground
Tinha inimigo no meio do salão
There was an enemy in the middle of the dance floor
Zé da Capoeira fazendo exibição
Zé da Capoeira showing off
Tinha cabelo grande mas não tinha molho
He had long hair but no flavor
Mané ficou de olho
Mané kept an eye
Escondeu Margarida na cortina
He hid Margarida behind the curtain
E gritou: 'Ninguém transa com a menina!'
And shouted: 'No one sleeps with the girl!'
E só terminou a brincadeira
And the joke only ended
Com o sangue escorrendo na ladeira
With blood running down the hill
E era muito sangue pra pouca ladeira
There was too much blood for such a small hill
Lá na gafieira
In the ballroom
Contributed by Alyssa F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.