Jorge Duílio Lima Meneses, known professionally as Jorge Ben Jor, and previ… Read Full Bio ↴Jorge Duílio Lima Meneses, known professionally as Jorge Ben Jor, and previously as Jorge Ben, is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and musician.

His characteristic style fuses rock and roll, samba, bossa nova, jazz, maracatu, funk, ska and even hip hop, with lyrics that mix humor and satire, as well as themes esoteric. Jorge's work has a unique importance for Brazilian music, as it incorporates new elements in swing and guitar playing, with characteristics of North American rock, soul and funk. Furthermore, he brought Arab and African influences, coming from his mother, born in Ethiopia.

He influenced sambalanço and samba-rock and was covered and honored by countless exponents of the new generations of Brazilian music, such as Mundo Livre S/A, Os Paralamas do Sucesso, Skank, Fernanda Abreu, Racionais MC's and Belô Velloso. Jorge Ben Jor exploded with the song "Mas, Que Nada!" and, soon after, ratified his talent with another great hit, "Chove Chuva". Two songs that were neither bossa nova nor samba. Purists thought his music was too modern. It was difficult for musicians at the time to follow him, so much so that his first albums were recorded with a group that played samba jazz at Beco das Garrafas, Meirelles e os Copa 5, led by saxophonist J. T. Meirelles.

Pisada De Elefante
Jorge Ben Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jararaca, jararaca, cuidado
Olha o rabo, o elefante vem aí

Castigo chega a todo instante
Ela está com o pé quebrado
Bem feito. Foi pisada de elefante

Castigo chega a todo instante

Ela está com o pé quebrado
Bem feito. Foi pisada de elefante

Jararaca, vaidosa
Jararaca, maliciosa
Jararaca, perigosa

Ela falava todo o dia
Que ma amava
E ma queria
Mas se eu bobeasse,
Ela me mordia
Mas se eu bobeasse,
Ela me mordia

Jararaca, vaidosa
Jararaca, maliciosa
Jararaca, perigosa

Eu não sabia que aquele fogo todo
Era passageiro
Eu não sabia que aquele fogo todo
Era interesseiro

Brincou com a minha fé
Brincou com a minha paz
Brincou com o meu carinho
Com a minha inocência
Foi demais,
A qualquer hora
Ela armava um bote
A qualquer hora
Era uma mentira ou uma história

Só dando sapeca, só dando sacode
Só dando sapeca, só dando sacode
Cuidado com o elefante, olha o elefante aí
Cuidado com o elefante, olha o elefante aí

Castigo chega a todo instante

Ela está com o pé quebrado
Bem feito. Foi pisada de elefante

Overall Meaning

In Jorge Ben's song "Pisada De Elefante," the lyrics speak of a warning to beware of the incoming elephant, as it may accidentally step on someone. The singer then goes on to describe how someone who had mistreated him had received their comeuppance, by being subject to an accidental injury from an elephant. The singer then goes on to describe the cunning and danger of someone named Jararaca, who professed love but was deceitful and manipulative, ultimately causing harm and upset.

The song's lyrics appear to be cautionary in nature, warning against those who might speak falsely of their love and intentions, and also against the dangers of living in close proximity to large animals like elephants. The name Jararaca itself is a nod to a venomous snake found in Brazil, further adding to the sense of danger and menace present in the song's lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Jararaca, jararaca, cuidado
Be careful, little viper

Olha o rabo, o elefante vem aí
Watch out for the elephant coming your way

Castigo chega a todo instante
Punishment arrives at any moment

Ela está com o pé quebrado
She has a broken foot

Bem feito. Foi pisada de elefante
It serves her right for getting trampled by an elephant

Jararaca, vaidosa
Conceited viper

Jararaca, maliciosa
Devious viper

Jararaca, perigosa
Dangerous viper

Ela falava todo o dia
She talked all day long

Que ma amava
How much she loved me

E ma queria
And how much she wanted me