Born on July 13, 1946, in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, João Bosco's profession was engineering when he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where his songs were also recorded by Elis Regina and were a success. He soon became admired as a versatile vocalist and a dynamic performer. João Bosco has been noted for "his singular fusion of Arab culture, Afro-American music and Brazilian styles bossa nova," influenced by American jazz.
Rancho Da Goiabada
João Bosco Lyrics
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Quando tomam umas biritas
Espantando a tristeza
Sonham com bife-a-cavalo, batata-frita
E a sobremesa
É goiabada cascão com muito queijo
Depois café, cigarro e um beijo
De uma mulata chamada
Amar
O rádio de pilha, o fogão jacaré, a marmita, o domingo
O bar
Onde tantos iguais se reúnem e contando mentiras
Pra poder suportar
Ai, são pais-de-santo, paus-de-araras são passistas
São flagelados, são pingentes, balconistas
Palhaços, marcianos, canibais, lírios, pirados
Dançando dormindo de olhos abertos à sombra
Da alegoria dos faraós embalsamados
Os bóias-frias
Quando tomam umas biritas
Espantando a tristeza
Sonham com bife-a-cavalo, batata-frita
E a sobremesa
É goiabada cascão com muito queijo
Depois café, cigarro e um beijo
De uma mulata chamada
Leonor ou Dagmar
Amar
O rádio de pilha, o fogão jacaré, a marmita, o domingo
O bar
Onde tantos iguais se reúnem e contando mentiras
Pra poder suportar
Ai, são pais-de-santo, paus-de-araras são passistas
São flagelados, são pingentes, balconistas
Palhaços, marcianos, canibais, lírios, pirados
Dançando dormindo de olhos abertos à sombra
Da alegoria dos faraós embalsamados
The lyrics of João Bosco's song "Rancho Da Goiabada" depict the lives of laborers, specifically rural workers known as "bóias-frias" in Brazil. The song begins by describing how these workers, when they have a drink, try to escape their sadness and dream of simple pleasures like a steak with an egg on top, fried potatoes, and for dessert, goiabada cascão (a type of guava sweet) with lots of cheese. Afterward, they enjoy a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and a kiss from a mulata named Leonor or Dagmar.
The song then moves on to describe the other aspects of their lives. They find solace in simple things like a transistor radio, a stovetop grill, their lunchbox, and Sunday gatherings at the local bar, where they meet others who are also seeking refuge. In order to cope with their struggles, they tell each other lies. The song lists the different types of people they encounter, from spiritual leaders to exotic bird sellers, from those who have been through hardships to clerks and clowns. These individuals are portrayed as dancing sleepily with their eyes open, under the shadow of the symbolism of embalmed pharaohs.
Overall, the lyrics of "Rancho Da Goiabada" paint a vivid picture of the lives and dreams of these rural workers, highlighting their hardships, simple pleasures, and the ways they find temporary escape from their reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Os bóias-frias
The laborers
Quando tomam umas biritas
When they have a few drinks
Espantando a tristeza
Trying to chase away their sadness
Sonham com bife-a-cavalo, batata-frita
Dreaming of a horseback steak, french fries
E a sobremesa
And for dessert
É goiabada cascão com muito queijo
It's goiabada cascão with lots of cheese
Depois café, cigarro e um beijo
Then coffee, cigarette, and a kiss
De uma mulata chamada
From a mulata named
Leonor ou Dagmar
Leonor or Dagmar
Amar
To love
O rádio de pilha, o fogão jacaré, a marmita, o domingo
The portable radio, the stove, the lunchbox, the Sunday
O bar
The bar
Onde tantos iguais se reúnem e contando mentiras
Where so many alike come together and telling lies
Pra poder suportar
To be able to endure
São pais-de-santo, paus-de-araras são passistas
They are holy men, sticks of parrots are dancers
São flagelados, são pingentes, balconistas
They are flagellants, they are pendants, they are counters
Palhaços, marcianos, canibais, lírios, pirados
Clowns, Martians, cannibals, lilies, crazies
Dançando dormindo de olhos abertos à sombra
Dancing asleep with eyes open in the shadow
Da alegoria dos faraós embalsamados
Of the embalmed Pharaohs' allegory
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joao Bosco De Freitas Mucci, Aldir Blanc Mendes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind