She began her career in the early 1970s and has recorded 20 albums and three singles.
Outside of music, she holds a law degree from Gama Filho University and she has acted in a telenovela, Xica da Silva.
Currently, besides devoting herself to her music career, Leci Brandão is a member of the National Council for the Promotion of Racial Equality and also the National Council of Women's Rights.
Zé Do Caroço
Leci Brandão Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do morro do Pau da Bandeira
Quem avisa é o Zé do Caroço
Que amanhã vai fazer alvoroço
Alertando a favela inteira
Como eu queria que fosse em Mangueira
Que existisse outro Zé do Caroço (Caroço, Caroço)
Carnaval não é esse colosso
Nossa escola é raiz, é madeira
Mas é o Morro do Pau da Bandeira
De uma Vila Isabel verdadeira
Que o Zé do Caroço trabalha
Que o Zé do Caroço batalha
E que malha o preço da feira
E na hora que a televisão brasileira
Distrai toda gente com a sua novela
É que o Zé põe a boca no mundo
É que faz um discurso profundo
Ele quer ver o bem da favela
Está nascendo um novo líder
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
Está nascendo um novo líder
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
Leci Brandão's song "Zé do Caroço" talks about a man named Zé who is an important figure in the favela of Morro do Pau da Bandeira. He works with the high speaker system and is responsible for warning the entire community about impending events. The song expresses the artist's desire for a similar figure in her own community of Mangueira. Someone who would remind the community that carnival is not just about grandiose displays, but it should also showcase the roots and traditions of the community.
Zé do Caroço is seen as a hero in the community, someone who genuinely cares about the well-being of the favela. The song talks about his constant fight for better living conditions and affordable prices for goods. He is regarded as a leader who is always looking out for the community's interests. The last verse of the song paints a picture of a budding leader who is coming up in the community of Morro do Pau da Bandeira.
In conclusion, the song is an ode to the people who, despite living in harsh conditions, are fighting for better lives. It is a tribute to the people who take leadership roles in their communities and work tirelessly to uplift their neighborhoods.
Line by Line Meaning
No serviço de alto-falante
From the loudspeaker service
Do morro do Pau da Bandeira
Of the Pau da Bandeira hill
Quem avisa é o Zé do Caroço
Zé do Caroço is the one who warns
Que amanhã vai fazer alvoroço
That tomorrow will cause a commotion
Alertando a favela inteira
Alerting the whole favela
Como eu queria que fosse em Mangueira
How I wish it was in Mangueira
Que existisse outro Zé do Caroço (Caroço, Caroço)
That there was another Zé do Caroço
Pra dizer de uma vez pra esse moço
To tell this guy once and for all
Carnaval não é esse colosso
Carnival is not this colossal thing
Nossa escola é raiz, é madeira
Our school is roots, it is wood
Mas é o Morro do Pau da Bandeira
But it’s the Pau da Bandeira hill
De uma Vila Isabel verdadeira
From a true Vila Isabel
Que o Zé do Caroço trabalha
Where Zé do Caroço works
Que o Zé do Caroço batalha
Where Zé do Caroço fights
E que malha o preço da feira
And beats down the market prices
E na hora que a televisão brasileira
And at the time when Brazilian television
Distrai toda gente com a sua novela
Distracts everyone with their soap operas
É que o Zé põe a boca no mundo
Zé puts his words into action
É que faz um discurso profundo
He makes a deep speech
Ele quer ver o bem da favela
He wants to see the good in the favela
Está nascendo um novo líder
A new leader is being born
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
In the Pau da Bandeira hill
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
In the Pau da Bandeira hill
No morro do Pau da Bandeira
In the Pau da Bandeira hill
Lyrics © Tratore, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Leci Brandao
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind