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.

No Ceará é assim
Fagner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eu só queria que você fosse um dia
Ver as praias bonitas do meu Ceará

Tenho a certeza que você gostaria
Dos mares bravios das praias de lá

Onde o coqueiro tem palma bem verde
Balançando ao vento pertinho do céu

E lá nasceu a virgem do poema
A linda Iracema dos lábios de mel

Eu só queria que você fosse um dia
Ver as praias bonitas do meu Ceará

Tenho a certeza que você gostaria
Dos mares bravios das praias de lá

Onde o coqueiro tem palma bem verde
Balançando ao vento pertinho do céu
E lá nasceu a virgem do poema
A linda Iracema dos lábios de mel

Oi! Quanta saudade que eu tenho de lá
Oi! Quanta saudade

A jangadinha vai no mar deslizando
O pescador o peixe vai pescando
O verde mar (a gente vai pescando)
Que não tem fim (a gente vai pescando)
No Ceará, no Ceará é assim

Eu só queria que você fosse um dia
Ver as praias bonitas do meu Ceará

Tenho a certeza que você gostaria
Dos mares bravios das praias de lá

Onde o coqueiro tem palma bem verde
Balançando ao vento pertinho do céu
E lá nasceu a virgem do poema
A linda Iracema dos lábios de mel

Oi! Quanta saudade que eu tenho de lá
Oi! Quanta saudade

A jangadinha vai no mar deslizando
O pescador o peixe vai pescando
O verde mar (a gente vai pescando)
Que não tem fim (a gente vai pescando)

A jangadinha vai no mar deslizando
O pescador o peixe vai pescando
O verde mar (a gente vai pescando)
Que não tem fim (a gente vai pescando)
No Ceará, no Ceará é assim

A jangadinha vai no mar deslizando
O pescador o peixe vai pescando
O verde mar (a gente vai pescando)

Que não tem fim (a gente vai pescando)
No Ceará, no Ceará é assim

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fagner's "No Ceará é assim" are a homage to the beauty of the state of Ceará, located in the northeast region of Brazil. The song begins by expressing the singer's desire for someone to come and see the beautiful beaches of Ceará, which he is sure they would enjoy, with their fierce seas and palm trees swaying in the wind. The lyrics also reference the birthplace of "Iracema," a famous novel by Brazilian author José de Alencar, which is set in Ceará and features a native woman named Iracema. The lyrics speak of the "linda Iracema dos lábios de mel" (the beautiful Iracema with honey lips), suggesting her as another reason to appreciate the state's natural wonder.

The chorus of the song reinforces the singer's longing for Ceará ("Oi! Quanta saudade que eu tenho de lá" - How much I miss it there), with the sound of a jangada (a traditional Northeastern Brazilian fishing vessel) gliding through the sea while fishermen catch fish. The lyrics evoke the endlessness of the sea while they fish, with the singer repeating "o verde mar que não tem fim" (the endless green sea).

With its languid melody and lyrics that paint a picture of idyllic beauty in Ceará, "No Ceará é assim" has become an anthem for the state and its people who take great pride in their home.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu só queria que você fosse um dia
I wish you could visit Ceará for a day

Ver as praias bonitas do meu Ceará
To see the beautiful beaches of my Ceará

Tenho a certeza que você gostaria
I am sure you would enjoy it

Dos mares bravios das praias de lá
The rough seas of those beaches

Onde o coqueiro tem palma bem verde
Where the coconut trees have lush green leaves

Balançando ao vento pertinho do céu
Swinging in the wind close to the sky

E lá nasceu a virgem do poema
And there was born the virgin of the poem

A linda Iracema dos lábios de mel
The beautiful Iracema with honey lips

Oi! Quanta saudade que eu tenho de lá
Oh! How much I miss it there

A jangadinha vai no mar deslizando
The raft slides on the sea

O pescador o peixe vai pescando
The fisherman catches fish