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.

Asa Branca
Fagner Lyrics

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Quando olhei a terra ardendo
Qual fogueira de São João
Eu perguntei a Deus do céu, ai
Por que tamanha judiação
Eu perguntei a Deus do céu, ai
Por que tamanha judiação

Que braseiro, que fornalha

Nem um pé de plantação
Por falta d'água perdi meu gado
Morreu de sede meu alazão

Por falta d'água perdi meu gado
Morreu de sede meu alazão

Inté mesmo a asa branca
Bateu asas do sertão
Entonce eu disse, adeus Rosinha
Guarda contigo meu coração

Entonce eu disse, adeus Rosinha
Guarda contigo meu coração

Hoje longe, muitas léguas
Numa triste solidão
Espero a chuva cair de novo
Pra eu voltar pro meu sertão

Espero a chuva cair de novo
Pra eu voltar pro meu sertão

Quando o verde dos teus olhos
Se espalhar na plantação
Eu te asseguro não chore não, viu
Que eu voltarei, viu
Meu coração

Eu te asseguro não chore não, viu

Que eu voltarei, viu
Meu coração

Overall Meaning

Fagner's song "Asa Branca" tells the story of a farmer who is devastated by the drought in the Brazilian sertão (backlands). The first stanza of the song describes the land burning like a bonfire, and the farmer asking God why such suffering is necessary. It is a powerful image of the impact of the drought on the lives and livelihoods of the people in the sertão. The second stanza describes the lack of water leading to the loss of the farmer's animals, including his beloved horse Alazão. Even the migratory bird Asa Branca, which is a symbol of hope and freedom, is forced to leave the sertão in search of water. The farmer bids farewell to his love Rosinha, leaving his heart with her, as he sets out in search of hope and opportunity.

In the third stanza, the farmer is far from home, feeling isolated and alone in his sorrow. He yearns for the rain to fall once again, bringing life and renewal to the parched land. Finally, in the last stanza, he speaks directly to Rosinha, promising her that he will return to her and the sertão when the green of her eyes spreads across the land once again. It is a message of hope and determination, even in the face of such great adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Quando olhei a terra ardendo
When I looked at the burning land

Qual fogueira de São João
Like a bonfire of São João

Eu perguntei a Deus do céu, ai
I asked God in heaven, oh

Por que tamanha judiação
Why so much suffering

Que braseiro, que fornalha
What a blaze, what a furnace

Nem um pé de plantação
Not even a crop

Por falta d'água perdi meu gado
I lost my cattle due to water scarcity

Morreu de sede meu alazão
My bay horse died of thirst

Inté mesmo a asa branca
Even the white-winged dove

Bateu asas do sertão
Has flown away from the backcountry

Entonce eu disse, adeus Rosinha
So I said, goodbye Rosinha