He is best known for the roles of Aaron Burr in the 2015 musical Hamilton and Sam Strickland in the 2013 musical television series Smash.
Brazil
Leslie Odom Jr. Lyrics
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Bamboleio que faz gingar
O Brasil do meu amor
Terra de Nosso Senhor
Brasil, Brasil, pra mim
Oh! Abre a cortina do passado
Bota o rei congo no congado
Brasil, Brasil
Deixa cantar de novo o trovador
A merencória à luz da lua
Toda canção do meu amor
Quero ver essa dona caminhando
Pelos salões, arrastando
O seu vestido rendado
Brasil, Brasil, pra mim, pra mim
Deixa cantar de novo o trovador
A merencória à luz da lua
Toda canção do meu amor
Quero ver essa dona caminhando
Pelos salões, arrastando
O seu vestido rendado
Brasil, Brasil, pra mim, pra mim
The lyrics to Leslie Odom Jr.'s song Brazil are a celebration of the country's unique culture and traditions. The samba, a lively and rhythmic dance style, is mentioned as something that brings joy and movement ("bamboleio") to the people. The singer expresses his love for Brazil as the "Land of Our Lord" and repeats the country's name as a way of honoring its beauty and spirit.
The song also features a call to recognize and honor the country's history and its people. The line "Oh! Abre a cortina do passado" (meaning "open the curtain of the past") is a reference to the need to acknowledge the contributions of black people and indigenous people to Brazilian culture. The reference to the "mãe preta do cerrado" (black mother of the cerrado, a region in Brazil) and the "rei congo" (king from the Congo) are nods to the African heritage of many Brazilians.
The last two stanzas of the song express a desire to see a woman "arrastando o seu vestido rendado" (dragging her lace dress) through the salons, dancing and enjoying herself. This is a reference to the Brazilian tradition of ballroom dancing, which is known for its elegance and grace. The singer's repetition of "Brasil, Brasil, pra mim" at the end of each stanza serves as a kind of exclamation of his love and admiration for the country and its people.
Overall, the lyrics to Brazil are an ode to the vibrant and diverse culture of Brazil, as well as a recognition of the contributions of its people throughout history.
Line by Line Meaning
O Brasil, samba que dá
Brazil, the land of samba that makes people dance
Bamboleio que faz gingar
Samba music with its rhythm moves the hips of the dancers
O Brasil do meu amor
Brazil that I love
Terra de Nosso Senhor
Land created by God
Oh! Abre a cortina do passado
Oh! Let us unveil the curtains of the past
Tira a mãe preta do cerrado
Bring the black mother from the fields
Bota o rei congo no congado
Invite the King of the Congo to the celebrations
Deixa cantar de novo o trovador
Let the troubadour sing again
A merencória à luz da lua
The nostalgic melody by the light of the moon
Toda canção do meu amor
Every love song I have
Quero ver essa dona caminhando
I want to see that lady walking
Pelos salões, arrastando
Dragging her lacy dress through the ballrooms
O seu vestido rendado
Her lace dress
Brasil, Brasil, pra mim, pra mim
Brazil, Brazil, for me, for me
Writer(s): Ary Barroso
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.