Born José Gomes Filho, in Paraíba, Brazil, a region in the northeast of the country, Jackson do Pandeiro's mother, Flora Mourão, was a musician and singer who played several percussion instruments.
As a child he had originally wanted to play the accordion, but his parents could not afford it and bought him a pandeiro, a type of tambourine, in its place. He began playing music with the zabumba, however, in order to assist his mother in performances. When Jackson was 13 years old his family moved to Campina Grande, a city in Paraíba. After the move, Jackson lived in João Pessoa, where he performed in various cabarets and on the radio; and also to Recife, where he eventually began working in a radio station and took the pseudonym of Jackson do Pandeiro. Originally his mother had nicknamed him "Jack", after the actor Jack Perry, who played parts in cowboy films which were popular in Brazil during Jackson's youth. He had his first hit with "Sebastiana", a song based on traditional Brazilian rhythms.
The single was followed by a number of albums that were successful with audiences throughout Brazil. Soon after, he joined his future wife Almira Castilhos de Albuquerque on a trip to Rio de Janeiro, financed by his recent success. The two had been performing in a duo together and were eventually married in October 1954. However, the duo and marriage were jointly ended in 1967, and Jackson's popularity diminished soon after. Jackson did find some greater success later, though, when the popular singer and guitarist Gilberto Gil, as well as the singer Gal Costa, recorded some of his material in 1972.
Discography
1954: Sua Majestade - o Rei do Ritmo
1955: Jackson do Pandeiro
1956: Forró do Jackson
1957: Jackson e Almira - Os Donos do Ritmo
1958: Forró do Jackson
1959: Jackson do Pandeiro
1960: Cantando de Norte a Sul
1961: Ritmo, Melodia e a Personalidade de Jackson do Pandeiro
1961: Mais Ritmo
1962: A Alegria da Casa
1962: ...É Batucada!
1963: Forró do Zé Lagoa
1964: Tem Jabaculê
1964: Coisas Nossas
1965: ...E Vamos Nós!
1966: O Cabra da Peste
1967: A Braza do Norte
1970: Aqui Tô Eu
1971: O Dono do Forró
1972: Sina de Cigarra
1973: Tem Mulher, Tô Lá
1974: Nossas Raízes
1975: A Tuba da Muié
1976: É Sucesso
1977: Um Nordestino Alegre
1978: Alegria Minha Gente
1980: São João Autêntico de Jackson do Pandeiro
1981: Isso é que é Forró!
Meu Enxoval
Jackson do Pandeiro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
E não me dei com o frio
Tive que voltar outra vez pro Rio
Pois aqui no Distrito Federá
O calor é de lascar
E veja o meu azar:
Comprei o Jornal do Brasil
Emprego tinha mais de mil
Telegrafei para a vovó
Ela tem uma bodega em Recife, Pernambuco
Eu disse pra ela que estou quase maluco
E que não tenho nem onde morar
O quê é que há?
Estou dormindo ao relento, valei-me nossa Senhora!
O meu travesseiro é o "Diário da Noite"
E o resto do corpo fica na "Última Hora"
Mas se eu voltar, aquela turma lá do Norte me arrasa
Principalmente o povo lá de casa
Que vai perguntar por que é que eu fui embora
Por isso eu vou ficando
Dormindo aqui na porta do Municipal
Com quatro mil-réis eu compro meu enxoval:
"Diário da Noite" e "Última Hora"
The lyrics of "Meu Enxoval" by Jackson do Pandeiro depict the struggles of a person who went to São Paulo in search of work but couldn't handle the cold weather and had to return to Rio de Janeiro, where they are now facing the scorching heat of the District Federá. The singer laments their bad luck in not being able to secure a job despite there being plenty advertised in the newspapers. The reference to the "Jornal do Brasil" highlights the frustration and disappointment of the singer at not finding employment despite their efforts.
Feeling desperate and without a place to stay, the singer telegraphs their grandmother who owns a small shop in Recife, Pernambuco. They express their distress and mention sleeping outdoors with only newspapers like "Diário da Noite" and "Última Hora" to provide some comfort. The imagery of using a newspaper as a pillow signifies their dire situation and lack of basic necessities. The mention of their grandmother's place in Recife hints at a possible refuge they might seek in their hometown due to their current predicament.
The lyrics further delve into the fear of facing judgment from their family and community if they were to return to the North. The pressure from the people back home, especially their household, adds to the singer's dilemma of whether to stay or leave. The internal conflict of wanting to avoid questions about their departure and yet feeling the need to prove themselves amplifies their sense of isolation and vulnerability. The decision to stay in Rio, even if it means sleeping on the steps of the Municipal building, indicates the singer's determination to withstand the challenges they are facing.
In the final lines, the singer reflects on their meager financial resources, emphasizing their dire circumstances. With only four mil-réis, they humorously mention being able to purchase their "enxoval" (trousseau) consisting of more newspapers, highlighting the ironic reality of their current state of living. Through vivid imagery and poignant storytelling, the song captures the struggles of individuals trying to make ends meet, facing hardships, and seeking solace in the midst of adversity.
Lyrics © Editora e Importadora Musical Fermata do Brasil Ltda.
Written by: GORDURINHA, ALMIRA CASTILHO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
carlos matos
Essa música é incrivel
Mauricio Lima
Eu fui para São Paulo procurar trabalho
E não me dei com o frio
Tive que voltar outra vez para o Rio
Pois aqui no Distrito Federá
O calor é de lascar
E veja o meu azar:
Comprei o “Jornal do Brasil”
Emprego tinha mais de mil
E eu não arranjei um só...
Telegrafei para a vovó
Ela tem uma bodega em Recife, Pernambuco
Eu disse pra ela que estou quase maluco
E que não tenho nem onde morar, o quê que há?
Estou dormindo ao relento, valei-me nossa Senhora!
O meu travesseiro é um “Diário da Noite”
E o resto do corpo fica na “Última Hora”.
Mas se eu voltar, aquela turma lá do Norte me arrasa
Principalmente o povo lá de casa
Que vai perguntar por que é que eu fui embora.
Porisso eu vou ficando
Dormindo aqui na porta do Municipal
Com quatro mil-réis eu compro o enxoval:
“Diário da Noite” e a “Última Hora”.
Compositor: Gordurinha E José Gomes