Como Tem Ze Na Paraiba
Jackson do Pandeiro Lyrics


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Vige como tem Zé
Zé de baixo, Zé de riba
Tesconjuro com tanto Zé
Como tem Zé lá na Paraíba.
(coro repete)

Lá na feira é só Zé que faz fervura
Tem mais Zé do que coco catolé
Só de Zé tem uns cem na Prefeitura
Outros cem no comércio tem de Zé
Tanto Zé desse jeito é um estrago
Eu só sei que tem Zé de dar com o pé
Faz lembrar a gagueira de um gago
Que aqui se danou a dizer Zé.

Num forró que eu fui em Cajazeira
O cacete cantou e fêz banzé
Pois um bebo no meio da bebedeira
Falou mal e xingou a mãe dum Zé
Como tinha só Zé nesse zunzum
Houve logo tamanho rapapé
Mãe de Zé era a mãe de cada um
No salão brigou tudo que era Zé...

É Zé João, Zé Pilão e Zé Maleta
Zé Negào, Zé da Cota, Zé Quelé
Todo mundo só tem uma receita
Quando quer ter um filho só tem Zé
E com essa franqueza que eu uso
Eu repito e se zangue quem quiser




Tanto Zé desse jeito é um abuso
Mas o diabo é que eu me chamo Zé...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jackson do Pandeiro's song Como Tem Zé Na Paraíba are a clever commentary on the prevalence of the name Zé in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The song talks about the different Zés (a popular nickname for José) that one can find in Paraíba - whether they're from the lowlands or the highlands, in the market or in the government, or causing trouble at a party. The singer is incredulous at the vast number of people named Zé in the state, and the fact that even he himself has the name.


The song also touches on the idea of identity - while there are so many Zés in Paraíba, they are all unique individuals with their own families, jobs, and personalities. This idea is emphasized in the second verse, where a fight breaks out at a party because someone insulted the mother of one of the Zés present. The fact that everyone identifies strongly with their name and their family is also evident in the last verse, where the singer talks about how people in Paraíba tend to name their children Zé when they want a son.


Overall, the song is a humorous ode to the name Zé and the people of Paraíba. It celebrates the unique sense of community that comes from sharing a name, while also acknowledging the individuality of each Zé.


Line by Line Meaning

Vige como tem Zé
Wow, there are so many people named Zé


Zé de baixo, Zé de riba
There are Zé's from all walks of life


Tesconjuro com tanto Zé
It's overwhelming how many Zé's there are


Como tem Zé lá na Paraíba.
There are a lot of Zé's in Paraíba


(chorus repeats)
Chorus repeats the main idea of the song


Lá na feira é só Zé que faz fervura
At the market, Zé dominates


Tem mais Zé do que coco catolé
There are more Zé's than coconut trees


Só de Zé tem uns cem na Prefeitura
There are over a hundred Zé's working in the government


Outros cem no comércio tem de Zé
There are also a hundred Zé's in the business sector


Tanto Zé desse jeito é um estrago
Having this many Zé's is a problem


Eu só sei que tem Zé de dar com o pé
There are so many Zé's, it's hard to keep track


Faz lembrar a gagueira de um gago
It's like the stutter of a person who stutters


Que aqui se danou a dizer Zé.
Who is unfortunately unable to say 'Zé'


Num forró que eu fui em Cajazeira
At a party in Cajazeira that I went to


O cacete cantou e fêz banzé
A fight broke out and chaos ensued


Pois um bebo no meio da bebedeira
A drunk person in the midst of their drunkenness


Falou mal e xingou a mãe dum Zé
Insulted and cursed at a Zé's mother


Como tinha só Zé nesse zunzum
As there were only Zé's in the commotion


Houve logo tamanho rapapé
A big commotion ensued


Mãe de Zé era a mãe de cada um
Every Zé saw the insult as directed towards their own mother


No salão brigou tudo que era Zé...
Everyone who was a Zé got into a fight


É Zé João, Zé Pilão e Zé Maleta
There's Zé João, Zé Pilão, and Zé Maleta


Zé Negào, Zé da Cota, Zé Quelé
There's Zé Negão, Zé da Cota, Zé Quelé


Todo mundo só tem uma receita
Everyone has the same recipe


Quando quer ter um filho só tem Zé
When they want a son, they only have a Zé


E com essa franqueza que eu uso
With the frankness that I use


Eu repito e se zangue quem quiser
I repeat, and whoever is upset may be


Tanto Zé desse jeito é um abuso
So many Zé's like this is too much


Mas o diabo é que eu me chamo Zé...
But the devil is that my name is also Zé




Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@ubiracimedeirosazevedo1900

Jackson do pandeiro é um imortal..❤

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