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.
Cebola Cortada
Fagner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brinca na luz do luar
Quem acredita em sereias
Sabe os segredos do mar
A cachoeira cantando
É a canção natural
Sempre lembrando pra gente
Teu amor é cebola cortada meu bem
Que logo me faz chorar
Teu amor é espinho de mandacaru
Que gosta de me arranhar
Teu olhar é cacimba barrenta meu bem
Que eu gosto de espiá
O Orvalho da noite
Brinca na luz do luar
Quem acredita em sereias
Sabe os segredos do mar
A cachoeira cantando
É a canção natural
Sempre lembrando pra gente
Que amar nunca faz mal
Teu amor é cebola cortada meu bem
Que logo me faz chorar
Teu amor é espinho de mandacaru
Que gosta de me arranhar
Teu olhar é cacimba barrenta meu bem
Que eu gosto de espiá
The first verse of Fagner's "Cebola Cortada" speaks of the dew of the night playing in the moonlight and those who believe in mermaids knowing the secrets of the sea. These lines suggest that the song is about the mysteries of nature and the things that we can only truly understand if we believe in them. The second verse mentions a singing waterfall, which represents the natural song of love, reminding us that love is always a good thing.
The chorus uses metaphors to describe the relationship between the singer and his lover. He compares their love to a cut onion that makes him cry and a thorn from a cactus that scratches him. These metaphors suggest that while their love is strong, it can also be painful at times. The final verse describes the lover's eyes as being like a muddy well that the singer still enjoys looking into despite the unclear view. This line implies that even though the relationship may have its challenges, the singer still finds joy in it.
Line by Line Meaning
O Orvalho da noite
The dew of the night
Brinca na luz do luar
Plays in the moonlight
Quem acredita em sereias
Those who believe in mermaids
Sabe os segredos do mar
Know the secrets of the sea
A cachoeira cantando
The waterfall singing
É a canção natural
It's the natural song
Sempre lembrando pra gente
Always reminding us
Que amar nunca faz mal
That love never hurts
Teu amor é cebola cortada meu bem
Your love is a cut onion, my dear
Que logo me faz chorar
That quickly makes me cry
Teu amor é espinho de mandacaru
Your love is a mandacaru thorn
Que gosta de me arranhar
That likes to scratch me
Teu olhar é cacimba barrenta meu bem
Your gaze is a muddy well, my love
Que eu gosto de espiá
That I like to spy on
O Orvalho da noite
The dew of the night
Brinca na luz do luar
Plays in the moonlight
Quem acredita em sereias
Those who believe in mermaids
Sabe os segredos do mar
Know the secrets of the sea
A cachoeira cantando
The waterfall singing
É a canção natural
It's the natural song
Sempre lembrando pra gente
Always reminding us
Que amar nunca faz mal
That love never hurts
Contributed by Layla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeferson Farias
Como o Nordeste é incrível em todos os seus aspectos. Obrigado a todos vocês nordestinos por fazer do nosso Brasil um país mais alegre, mesmo com todas as dificuldades.
Valda Sedícias
👏🌹👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Ceciana Melo
Verdade
Ed carlos Silva
O nordeste é um celeiro de artistas.
Marcus Rameiro
Nordeste de belezas naturais de comidas naturais de músicas lindas. De povo de cultura forte e de povo apaixonante, quente como como seu povo. Viva o nordeste!!!
karencamaral
Sou paraense, mas minha mãe é nordestina e meu bizavô tb... Música forte que só sabe quem sente. Obg nordeste! Obg artistas nordestinos
ALLYSSOM
Belíssima música pena que nem tudo mundo tem sensibilidade pra sentir.
JULIO CESAR Almeida
Tem muita gente que sabe que isso é bom....Um salve pra quem ouve essa maravilha em 2020
Vanda Neves
Com certeza....
João Valentim Magalhães
Linda música , me deu uma saudade da minha juventude e lembrei dessa musica