Raimundo Fagner Cândido Lopes (born in Orós, Ceará, October 13, 1949) is a … Read Full Bio ↴Raimundo Fagner Cândido Lopes (born in Orós, Ceará, October 13, 1949) is a Brazilian singer, composer, musician, actor and music producer. He is commonly known by the stage name Fagner.

The youngest of the five children of José Fares, Lebanese immigrant to Brazil, and Dona Francisca, Fagner was born in Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceará, although his birth was recorded in Orós.

At the age of five years he won a youth competition at a local radio station. As a teen, he formed vocal and instrumental groups and began to compose his own music. In 1968 he won the Festival de Música Popular do Ceará (Popular Music Festival of Ceará) with his song "Nada Sou" (I am Nothing).

In 1971 he moved to the capital Brasília, taking first place in the Festival de Música Popular do Centro de Estudos Universitários de Brasília (Popular Music Festival of the University Studies Center of Brasília) with his piece "Mucuripe" (with collaborator Belchior), which was later recorded by artist Elis Regina, and became Fagner's first notable success as a composer. He won prizes in other categories with additional pieces, as well.

He has had a distinguished career as a performer, singer, songwriter and composer for over 3 decades, and is also known for his collaborations with other MPB artists such as Caetano Veloso, Roberta Miranda, Chico Buarque and others.

ABC
Fagner Lyrics

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Lá no meu sertão
Pros caboclo ler
Tem que aprender
Outro ABC
O jota é ji
E o éle é lê
O ésse é si
Mas o érre

Tem nome de rê

O jota é ji
E o éle é lê
O ésse é si
Mas o érre
Tem nome de rê

Até o ypsilon
Lá é pissilone
O ême é mê
O ême é mê
O éfe é fê
O gê chama-se guê
Na escola é engraçado
Ouvir-se tanto ê
O éfe é fê
O gê chama-se guê
Na escola é engraçado
Ouvir-se tanto ê

A bê cê dê fê guê lê mê nê
Pê quê rê tê vê e zê

A bê cê dê fê guê lê mê nê
Pê quê rê tê vê e zê

Lá no meu sertão
Pros caboclo ler
Tem que aprender
Outro ABC
O jota é ji
E o éle é lê
O ésse é si
Mas o érre
Tem nome de rê

O jota é ji
E o éle é lê
O ésse é si
Mas o érre
Tem nome de rê

Até o ypsilon
Lá é pissilone
O ême é mê
O ême é mê
O éfe é fê
O gê chama-se guê
Na escola é engraçado
Ouvir-se tanto ê
O éfe é fê
O gê chama-se guê
Na escola é engraçado
Virgem, que tanto ê

A bê cê dê fê guê lê mê nê
Pê quê rê tê vê e zê

A bê cê dê fê guê lê mê nê
Pê quê rê tê vê e zê

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fagner's song "ABC" talk about the unique phonetic pronunciations of letters in the Portuguese language, particularly in the Northeastern region of Brazil. The song highlights the different sounds assigned to each letter in the alphabet, emphasizing the distinct pronunciation of each letter compared to the standard Portuguese pronunciation. It portrays the specific way the alphabet is taught and learned in the singer's "sertão," a rural and arid region in Brazil.

In the song, Fagner mentions that the letter "j" is pronounced as "ji," the letter "l" as "lê," and the letter "s" as "si." However, when it comes to the letter "r," Fagner notes that it is pronounced as "rê," deviating from its traditional pronunciation. The lyrics also mention peculiar pronunciations of other letters such as "y" as "pissilone," "m" as "mê," "f" as "fê," and "g" as "guê." Fagner humorously points out that it is amusing to hear these unconventional pronunciations in school, where the students commonly use the letter "ê."

Overall, "ABC" emphasizes the dialectal variations in the Portuguese language and celebrates the unique linguistic characteristics of the singer's region.

Line by Line Meaning

Lá no meu sertão
In my countryside

Pros caboclo ler
For the country folks to read

Tem que aprender
They have to learn

Outro ABC
Another ABC

O jota é ji
The letter 'j' is pronounced as 'ji'

E o éle é lê
And the letter 'l' is pronounced as 'lê'

O ésse é si
The letter 's' is pronounced as 'si'

Mas o érre
But the letter 'r'

Tem nome de rê
Has the name 'rê'

Até o ypsilon
Even the letter 'ypsilon' (y)

Lá é pissilone
There is pronounced as 'pissilone'