Maria Rita began to sing professionally aged 24, even though she began to sing since she was 14. Her first CD, 'Maria Rita', launched her career, with the first cut on her first album, "A Festa (The Party)", written by Milton Nascimento, a Brazilian singer-songwriter. The CD was platinum and was a hit worldwide. After that album she became an international star. Her mother's career as a renowned singer had a major influence in Maria Rita's life as a singer; She was always conscious of being the single daughter of a great singer. Despite having her mother's vocal DNA, Maria Rita developed her own jazzy vocal style, influenced by singers, like among others, Ella Fitzgerald. She won the 2004 Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist in the General Area. Her debut album, 'Maria Rita', won the Best MPB (Popular Brasilian Music) Album award of that year. Rita is pronounced "HEE-taaa".
Maria do Socorro
Maria Rita Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suas pernas torneadas
Pelas ladeiras do morro
Ela vai no baile funk
De shortinho top e gorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
Suas pernas torneadas
Pelas ladeiras do morro
Ela vai no baile funk
De shortinho top e gorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
E no baile
Só da ela
Só da ela
Ja foi miss comunidade da favela
Hoje sonha em morar noutro lugar
Mas Zé Cachorro não deixa
A gata se queixa
Mas fica por lá
Maria do Socorro
Suas pernas torneadas
Pelas ladeiras do morro
Ela vai no baile funk
De shortinho top e gorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
E no baile
Só da ela
Só da ela
Ja foi miss comunidade da favela
Hoje sonha em morar noutro lugar
Mas Zé Cachorro não deixa
A gata se queixa
Mas fica por lá
Maria do Socorro
Suas pernas torneadas
Pelas ladeiras do morro
Ela vai no baile funk
De shortinho top e gorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
Maria do Socorro
Suas pernas torneadas
Pelas ladeiras do morro
Ela vai no baile funk
De shortinho top e gorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
É afim do Zé Galinha
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
Afim do Zé Galinha
E namora o Zé Cachorro
The song "Maria do Socorro" by Maria Rita tells the story of a girl named Maria from the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lyrics describe her as a confident and beautiful girl with toned legs, who wears shorts, a crop top, and beanie to the Baile Funk (funk dance party) on the hill. Despite being interested in a guy named Zé Galinha, she is in a relationship with another man, Zé Cachorro. The verses repeat each other, emphasizing how Maria is torn between these two men.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the lyrics "Só da ela" which roughly translates to "it's all about her," which implies that Maria is the center of attention at the Baile Funk. Maria is portrayed as a strong and independent woman who is driven to improve her life but feels trapped in her current relationship with Zé Cachorro. She dreams of living in another place, but her toxic relationship makes it impossible for her to leave.
Overall, "Maria do Socorro" is a commentary on love, relationships, and female empowerment in the context of Brazil's favelas.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria do Socorro
This song is about a girl named Maria do Socorro.
Suas pernas torneadas
She has well-shaped legs.
Pelas ladeiras do morro
She walks up and down the hills of the slum.
Ela vai no baile funk
She goes to the funk ball.
De shortinho top e gorro
She wears shorts and a top with a hat.
É afim do Zé Galinha
She likes Zé Galinha.
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
But she is dating Zé Cachorro.
E no baile
And at the ball,
Só da ela
It's all about her.
Ja foi miss comunidade da favela
She was once miss community of the slum.
Hoje sonha em morar noutro lugar
Today she dreams of living somewhere else.
Mas Zé Cachorro não deixa
But Zé Cachorro won't let her go.
A gata se queixa
The cat complains.
Mas fica por lá
But she stays there.
É afim do Zé Galinha
She likes Zé Galinha.
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
But she is dating Zé Cachorro.
Maria do Socorro
This song is about a girl named Maria do Socorro.
Suas pernas torneadas
She has well-shaped legs.
Pelas ladeiras do morro
She walks up and down the hills of the slum.
Ela vai no baile funk
She goes to the funk ball.
De shortinho top e gorro
She wears shorts and a top with a hat.
É afim do Zé Galinha
She likes Zé Galinha.
Mas namora o Zé Cachorro
But she is dating Zé Cachorro.
Afim do Zé Galinha
She likes Zé Galinha.
E namora o Zé Cachorro
But she is dating Zé Cachorro.
Contributed by Jack N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.