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.
Dona Do Dom
Maria Bethânia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sei que é ele a mim que me possui
As pedras do que sou dilui
E eleva em nuvens de poeira
Mesmo que às vezes eu não queira
Me faz sempre ser o que sou e fui
E eu quero, quero, quero, quero ser sim
Esse serafim de procissão do interior
E as sandálias gastas como gestos do pastor
Presa do dom que Deus me pôs
Sei que é ele a mim que me liberta
Sopra a vida quando as horas mortas
Homens e mulheres vêm sofrer de alegria
Gim, fumaça, dor, microfonia
E ainda me faz ser o que sem ele não seria
E eu quero, quero, é claro que sim
Iluminar o escuro com meu bustiê carmim
Mesmo quando choro
E adivinho que é esse o meu fim
Plena do dom que Deus me deu
Sei que é ele a mim que me ausenta
E quando nada do que eu sou canta
E o silêncio cava grotas tão profundas
Pois mesmo aí na pedra ainda
Ele me faz ser o que em mim nunca se finda
E eu quero, quero, quero ser sim
Essa ave frágil que avoa no sertão
O oco do bambu
Apito do acaso a flauta da imensidão
E eu quero, quero, é claro que sim
Essa ave frágil que avoa no sertão
O oco do bambu
Apito do acaso a flauta da imensidão
The song "Dona do Dom" by Maria Bethania is a deep and introspective look into the singer's relationship with God and the talents or "dom" that she has been given by Him. The lyrics start by acknowledging that God is the one who possesses her and gives her the ability to create and express herself through music. She describes how her talent is a part of who she is, and even if she sometimes tries to resist or deny it, it will always be a part of her. She also mentions her desire to be like a seraphim, a celestial being, with the wings of styrofoam and worn sandals, signifying her humility and simplicity.
The second verse continues along the same theme, but now Bethania speaks about how her talent sets her free. She acknowledges that God is the one who breathes life into her music and how her songs help bring joy to people's lives even in the midst of pain or suffering. She mentions how all of these experiences, both good and bad, make her who she is and how she wants to continue to shine even in the darkness, wearing her red bustier (symbolic of passion and strength) as a beacon of hope.
Finally, in the third verse, Bethania talks about how she feels absent and lost when she's not singing or creating music. She describes how sometimes when she is in a state of silence, it can be overwhelming and make her feel like she's in a deep and dark hole. But again, she turns to God and acknowledges that even in those moments, He is still with her, helping her to be who she truly is.
Overall, "Dona do Dom" is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that showcases Maria Bethania's talent for introspection and self-reflection. Through her words, she highlights the importance of faith, humility, and perseverance in pursuing one's talents and passions.
Line by Line Meaning
Dona do dom que Deus me deu
I am the owner of the gift that God gave me
Sei que é ele a mim que me possui
I know that it is He who possesses me
As pedras do que sou dilui
He dissolves the stones of what I am
E eleva em nuvens de poeira
And raises me in clouds of dust
Mesmo que às vezes eu não queira
Even when sometimes I don't want to
Me faz sempre ser o que sou e fui
He always makes me be who I am and who I was
E eu quero, quero, quero, quero ser sim
And I want, want, want to be, yes
Esse serafim de procissão do interior
This seraph of the procession of the interior
Com as asas de isopor
With wings of styrofoam
E as sandálias gastas como gestos do pastor
And sandals worn out like gestures of the pastor
Presa do dom que Deus me pôs
I am captive of the gift that God has put in me
Sei que é ele a mim que me liberta
I know that it is He who sets me free
Sopra a vida quando as horas mortas
He blows life into the dead hours
Homens e mulheres vêm sofrer de alegria
Men and women come to suffer of joy
Gim, fumaça, dor, microfonia
Gin, smoke, pain, feedback noise
E ainda me faz ser o que sem ele não seria
And still makes me be what I would not be without Him
E eu quero, quero, é claro que sim
And I want, want, of course I do
Iluminar o escuro com meu bustiê carmim
To light up the dark with my crimson bustier
Mesmo quando choro
Even when I cry
E adivinho que é esse o meu fim
And I guess that this is my end
Plena do dom que Deus me deu
Full of the gift that God gave me
Sei que é ele a mim que me ausenta
I know that it is He who absents me
E quando nada do que eu sou canta
And when nothing of what I am sings
E o silêncio cava grotas tão profundas
And the silence digs such deep ravines
Pois mesmo aí na pedra ainda
Because even there, on the stone
Ele me faz ser o que em mim nunca se finda
He makes me be what never ends in me
E eu quero, quero, quero ser sim
And I want, want, want to be, yes
Essa ave frágil que avoa no sertão
This fragile bird that flies in the backlands
O oco do bambu
The hollow of the bamboo
Apito do acaso a flauta da imensidão
Whistle of chance, the flute of immensity
E eu quero, quero, é claro que sim
And I want, want, of course I do
Essa ave frágil que avoa no sertão
This fragile bird that flies in the backlands
O oco do bambu
The hollow of the bamboo
Apito do acaso a flauta da imensidão
Whistle of chance, the flute of immensity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANCISCO CESAR GONCALVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cleber Ferretto
A Imensidão que em sua voz canta, decanta a história de quem nasceu pra encantar, Maria de Deus Bethânia.
Alan Gonzaga
DIVA das poderosas... Saravá!
O show que mais me emocionou, como sempre ...
E claro, tenho registrado no DVD que repete toda semana!
maiko Jhonny
Dona Maria Bethania tem o dom de me encantar !!! meu Deus sou apixonado por essa voz por essa mulher.
Carlinhos Di Antônio Barbeiro
Simplesmente espetacular....
💢💯💢💯💢
Jani De Alencar
E quando nada do que eu sou canta/ E o silêncio cava grotas tão profundas Pois mesmo aí na pedra ainda/Ele me faz ser o que em mim nunca se finda (Chico César: Dona do Dom) "É pedra na pedra/É rosa na rocha/É acha no manto/ É cântico loquaz/Sou peito que sangra/Ouro rarefeito/Luz e filamento/ Asas cânticos litanias" (Jani De Alencar)
Lirio Campo
Essa música é linda e na voz dela ficou mais do que mais Perfeita.
juninhu hair
divina , bebo de sua voz
Claudio Poeta
Fantástico - Obrigado por compartilhar
Luizinho Luizinho
Vejo nessa música a imensidão que é Deus!
José Inácio Vieira de Melo
A flauta da imensidão tocou em minha alma.
Sou só gratidão.
Abraços.
JIVM