Sister of the also popular and renowned singer and composer Caetano Veloso, she began her artistic career in 1963, appearing in the play "Boca de Ouro" by Nelson Rodrigues. A song about the play was written by Caetano Veloso, who opened the show singing a samba track by Ataulfo Alves. That year she met Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Djalma Correa, Pitti, Alcivando Luz and Fernando Lona in Salvador, with whom she performed at the commemorations inaugurating the Vila Velha de Salvador theatre in 1964 in the shows "Nós por exemplo" and "Nova bossa velha, velha bossa nova". In 1964 she also appeared in "Mora na Filosofia", her first solo show, when she met Nara Leão. As 1965 she replaced the muse of bossa nova in the show at Teatro Opinião (Rio de Janeiro), sharing the stage with Zé Kéti and João do Vale. She stood out for her stirring interpretation of the song "Carcará". In 1965 she also recorded her first record, a single containing the tracks "Carcará" and "É de manhã", the first recording of Caetano Veloso’s composition. That same year she released a double single with the songs "Carcará", "No carnaval", "Mora na filosofia" and "Só eu sei", followed by her debut album "Maria Bethânia" and the record "Maria Bethânia canta Noel Rosa". That year she also performed in the show Arena canta Bahia, directed by Augusto Boal, alongside Gal, Gil, Caetano, Pitti and Tom Zé. Also under the direction of Boal, the same group performed the show Tempo de Guerra. In 1996 she shared the stage of Teatro Opinião with Vinícius de Moraes and Gilberto Gil, presenting the show "Pois é". In 1967 she released the album "Edu & Bethânia" with Edu Lobo. She appeared in the shows "Yes, nós temos Maria Bethânia" (Bolso theatre, Rio de Janeiro) and "Comigo me desavim" (Miguel Lemos theatre, Rio de Janeiro) and "Brasileiro profissão esperança", by Paulo Pontes, directed by Bibi Ferreira, at the Casa Grande theatre (Rio de Janeiro). In 1971 she recorded the album "A tua presença", which was praised by the select critics. In 1971 the show "Rosa dos ventos" premiered at Teatro da Praia (Rio de Janeiro), directed by Fauzi Arap and she released the album of the same name. In 1972 she appeared alongside Chico Buarque and Nara Leão in the film "Quando o carnaval chegar" by Cacá Diegues. After another trip to Europe, she launched the album "Drama - anjo exterminado" also that year. In 1973 the show Drama, luz da noite premiered at Teatro da Praia, directed by Antônio Bivar and Isabel Câmara, from which arose the record "Luz da noite". The following year she commemorated ten years in the music business with the show "A cena muda", directed by Fauzi Arap, at the Casa Grande Theatre (Rio de Janeiro). The show led to a live record of the same name. In 1975 she performed a lengthy season with Chico Buarque at the Canecão (Rio de Janeiro). In 1976 she recorded the album "Pássaro proibido" which earned her first gold record. Also that year she got together with Caetano, Gil and Gal, forming the group Os Doces Bárbaros. In 1977 she released the album "Pássaro da manhã", for which she received the second gold record of her career. That year she was considered one of the bestselling singers in Brazil, which opened new doors in the record industry. In 1978 she starred in the show "Maria Bethânia e Caetano Veloso ao vivo" alongside her brother. Also that year the album "Álibi" was released, which earned her third gold disk. In 1979 she recorded the album "Mel". She released a series of records in the following decades: "Alteza" (81), "Maria" (88), "Memória da pele" (89), "Olho d’água" (92), "As canções que você fez pra mim" (93), only recording records by Roberto and Erasmo Carlos Âmbar (96), "Imitação da vida" (97) and "A força que nunca seca" (99). In 1994 she performed alongside Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil, in the show "Doces Bárbaros na Mangueira", reference to the tribute made to them by this samba school, with the theme "Atrás da verde e rosa só não vai quem já morreu". In 2000, she recorded limited-edition album "Cânticos, preces, súplicas à Senhora dos Jardins do Céu". In 2001, she recorded the album "Maricotinha", containing the tracks "Moça do sonho" (Edu Lobo and Chico Buarque), from the musical "Cambaio, Primavera" (Carlos Lyra and Vinícius de Moraes), "Quando você não está aqui" (Herbert Vianna and Paulo Sérgio Valle), "Antes que amanheça" (Chico César and Carlos Rennó) and "Se eu morresse de saudade" (Gilberto Gil), among others, in addition to the title track, by Dorival Caymmi. She released the record a special show at the Canecão (Rio de Janeiro). The show included appearances by Caetano Veloso, Carlos Lyra, Chico Buarque, Nana e Danilo Caymmi, Adriana Calcanhoto and Gilberto Gil, among other artists. Also in 2001, in commemoration of her 35 years in the music business, she returned to the Canecão in the show "Maricotinha", which led to the double album "Maricotinha ao vivo". On December 8 that same year, she performed before 100,000 people on Copacabana beach alongside Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa in the show "Doces Bárbaros", which concluded the project Pão Music. In 2003 the show presented in 2001 at the Canecão was released on the DVD "Maricotinha ao vivo", directed by André Horta. In 2003 she was also nominated for the Multishow Award in the categories Best Show and Best Album for "Maricotinha ao vivo". Also that year she created her own label, Quitanda, in partnership with record company Biscoito Fino, inaugurated the company by releasing the album "Brasileirinho", containing songs about religion and Brazil, with guest appearances by Nana Caymmi, Miúcha, Denise Stoklos and Ferreira Gullar, in addition to the groups Tira Poeira and Uakti, and the album "Vozes da Purificação", the first song recorded by Dona Edith do Prato. In 2004 she received the Tim Award in the categories Best Singer, Best Record and best visual MPB project, the Rival BR Award in the category Best Album, and the Academia Brasileira de Letras Award in the category Best Singer, in addition to being nominated for the Latin Grammy. That same year she produced and appeared as a singer alongside other artists on the album "Namorando a Rosa", a tribute record to violinist Rosinha de Valença, released by her Quitanda label. In 2005 she released the album Que falta você me faz, recording works by Vincius de Moraes, in partnership with Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Carlos Lyra, Baden Powell, Toquinho, Adoniran Barbosa and Jards Macalé. That same year she appeared at Canecão (Rio de Janeiro) in the show "Tempo Tempo Tempo Tempo - Uma homenagem a Vinícius de Moraes". In 2005 she also received the Golden Music Dolphin Award from the Rio de Janeiro State Culture Council.
A Menina Dos Olhos de Oyá
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Folhas verdes pelo céu cor de rosa da manhã
Baianas com seus colares e guias
Descendo em romaria
Preparam um ritual de magia
Mel e pitanga pra perfumar com dendê
Na passarela jogam água de benzer
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
No esplendor de um novo dia
A voz morena traz a flor da poesia
Canta, Brasil criança
Ave sertaneja voa na lembrança
Herdeira da velha Bahia
Seu canto reza no cortejo da folia
Bela, borda de ouro a melodia
Sob um mar de fantasia
Brilha num desfile magistral
Pisa, pés descalços na avenida
Pelo povo aplaudida
Vem pra conquistar o Carnaval
Entra na roda, ô Maria
Gira poeira
Quero ver você sambar
No embalo da Mangueira
Entra na roda, ô Maria
Gira poeira
Quero ver você sambar
No embalo da Mangueira
Sopra o vento de Iansã
Folhas verdes pelo céu cor de rosa da manhã
Baianas com seus colares e guias
Descendo em romaria
Preparam um ritual de magia
Mel e pitanga pra perfumar com dendê
Na passarela jogam água de benzer
Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
The lyrics of "A Menina Dos Olhos de Oyá" by Maria Bethânia tell the story of a young girl who represents the spirit of Oyá, an Orisha in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé. Oyá is associated with the wind, storms, and transformation. The song describes the energy and vibrancy of the carnival in Mangueira, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro known for its samba school.
The opening lines refer to the wind blowing in the colors of the morning sky, with women wearing their traditional Bahian attire adorned with necklaces and spiritual amulets, descending in a pilgrimage to prepare a magical ritual. There is an offering of honey, pitanga fruit, and dendê oil, and water is blessed and thrown onto the parade route.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô" which means "Open the paths for the daughter of Dona Canô." It is a reference to Maria Bethânia's mother, Dona Canô, who was a prominent figure in the cultural and musical scene in Bahia. The line "chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor" means "Mangueira has arrived with the sound of the drum," highlighting the arrival of the Mangueira samba school, one of the most famous in Brazil, with its vibrant percussion.
The song celebrates the strength, beauty, and enchantment of the girl representing Oyá. It mentions the Gantois, a traditional Candomblé house in Bahia known for its strong spiritual practices. The lyrics also mention the poetic flavor of Brazil, the remembrance of sertaneja (from the Brazilian countryside) bird flying, and the girl's connection to the heritage of Bahia. It describes the girl's song being embroidered with gold, shining in a majestic parade, and applauded by the people, striving to conquer Carnival.
The repetition of the phrase "Entra na roda, ô Maria, Gira poeira" means "Join the circle, oh Maria, spin dust." It invites Maria to dance and samba in the spirit of the Mangueira tradition.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Menina Dos Olhos de Oyá" celebrate the power, beauty, and spiritual presence of a young girl embodying the essence of Oyá in the context of the vibrant carnival atmosphere in Mangueira.
Line by Line Meaning
Sopra o vento de Iansã
The wind blows, carrying the energy of the goddess Iansã
Folhas verdes pelo céu cor de rosa da manhã
Green leaves float through the pink morning sky
Baianas com seus colares e guias
Baianas wearing their necklaces and guides
Descendo em romaria
Descending in a pilgrimage
Preparam um ritual de magia
Preparing a magical ritual
Mel e pitanga pra perfumar com dendê
Honey and pitanga to perfume with palm oil
Na passarela jogam água de benzer
On the runway, they sprinkle holy water
Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô
Oh oh oh, they open paths for Dona Canô's daughter
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Oh oh oh, Mangueira has arrived to the sound of the drumbeat
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Let the girl of Oyá pass through
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
Her charm radiates the positive energy of Gantois
No esplendor de um novo dia
In the splendor of a new day
A voz morena traz a flor da poesia
The dark voice brings the flower of poetry
Canta, Brasil criança
Sing, Brazil child
Ave sertaneja voa na lembrança
The sertaneja bird flies in memory
Herdeira da velha Bahia
Heir of old Bahia
Seu canto reza no cortejo da folia
Her singing prays in the carnival procession
Bela, borda de ouro a melodia
Beautifully embroidering the melody with gold
Sob um mar de fantasia
Under a sea of fantasy
Brilha num desfile magistral
Shining in a masterful parade
Pisa, pés descalços na avenida
Stepping, barefoot, on the avenue
Pelo povo aplaudida
Applauded by the people
Vem pra conquistar o Carnaval
She comes to conquer the Carnival
Entra na roda, ô Maria
Join the circle, oh Maria
Gira poeira
Whirl the dust
Quero ver você sambar
I want to see you samba
No embalo da Mangueira
To the rhythm of Mangueira
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Let the girl of Oyá pass through
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
Her charm radiates the positive energy of Gantois
Sopra o vento de Iansã
The wind blows, carrying the energy of the goddess Iansã
Folhas verdes pelo céu cor de rosa da manhã
Green leaves float through the pink morning sky
Baianas com seus colares e guias
Baianas wearing their necklaces and guides
Descendo em romaria
Descending in a pilgrimage
Preparam um ritual de magia
Preparing a magical ritual
Mel e pitanga pra perfumar com dendê
Honey and pitanga to perfume with palm oil
Na passarela jogam água de benzer
On the runway, they sprinkle holy water
Ôôôôô, abrem caminhos pra filha de Dona Canô
Oh oh oh, they open paths for Dona Canô's daughter
Ôôôôô, chegou Mangueira ao som do rufar do tambor
Oh oh oh, Mangueira has arrived to the sound of the drumbeat
Deixa passar a menina de Oyá
Let the girl of Oyá pass through
Seu encanto irradia o axé do Gantois
Her charm radiates the positive energy of Gantois
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tantinho, Andre Braga, Guilherme Sa, Alipio Carmo, Jansen Carvalho, Marcos Tulio
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind