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".
Morro Velho
Maria Rita Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fazenda é o camarada que ao chão se deu
Fez a obrigação com força
Parece até que tudo aquilo ali é seu
Só poder sentar no morro
E ver tudo verdinho, lindo a crescer
Orgulhoso camarada de viola ao em vez de enxada.
Correndo pela estrada atrás de passarinho
Pela plantação adentro
Crescendo os dois meninos, sempre pequeninos.
Peixe bom dá no riacho
De água tão limpinha, dá pro fundo ver
Orgulhos camarada conta histórias pra moçada
Filho do sinhô vai embora
É tempo e estudo na cidade grande
Parte, tem olhos tristes
Deixando o companheiro na estação distante
"Não me esqueça amigo, eu vou voltar"
Some longe o trenzinho ao deus-dará
Quando volta já é outro
Trouxe até sinhá-mocinha para apresentar
Linda como a luz da lua
Que em lugar nenhum rebrilha como lá
Já tem nome de doutor
E agora na fazenda é quem vai mandar
Seu velho camarada já não brinca, mas trabalha.
The lyrics to Maria Rita's song Morro Velho paint a vivid picture of life on a farm in the countryside of Brazil. The singer describes how the farmers are committed to their land, with their farms being a part of their identity, and their pride in their work is palpable. Sitting on the hill and looking out at the green landscape together, the farmers feel a sense of ownership and belonging, as though everything around them is their own.
The second verse speaks to the theme of childhood and the memories associated with it. The singer mentions two boys, one black and one white, who are running around chasing birds and playing in the fields. Despite growing up with different backgrounds, they share a bond through their experiences on the farm. The camaraderie among the farmhands is highlighted in the final stanza as the singer describes how one of them leaves to pursue higher education in the city, but promises to return. The song highlights the challenges of rural life but also celebrates the strength, unity, and resilience of this close-knit community.
Line by Line Meaning
No sertão da minha terra
In the backlands of my homeland
Fazenda é o camarada que ao chão se deu
The farmland is the friend who gave himself to the land
Fez a obrigação com força
He fulfilled his duty with strength
Parece até que tudo aquilo ali é seu
It almost seems as if everything there belongs to him
Só poder sentar no morro
Only really sitting on the hill
E ver tudo verdinho, lindo a crescer
And seeing everything green, beautiful and growing
Orgulhoso camarada de viola ao em vez de enxada
Proud friend playing a viola instead of using a hoe
Filho de branco e do preto
A son of white and black
Correndo pela estrada atrás de passarinho
Running along the road chasing after birds
Pela plantação adentro
Going deep into the plantation
Crescendo os dois meninos, sempre pequeninos
Growing the two boys, always small
Peixe bom dá no riacho
Good fish can be found in the creek
De água tão limpinha, dá pro fundo ver
The water is so clean that you can see the bottom
Orgulhos camarada conta histórias pra moçada
Proud friend telling stories to the young ones
Filho do sinhô vai embora
The son of the master leaves
É tempo e estudo na cidade grande
It's time for education in the big city
Parte, tem olhos tristes
He leaves, with a sad look in his eyes
Deixando o companheiro na estação distante
Leaving his friend at the distant station
"Não me esqueça amigo, eu vou voltar"
"Don't forget me, friend, I will come back"
Some longe o trenzinho ao deus-dará
The train disappears in the distance
Quando volta já é outro
Upon his return, he is a different person
Trouxe até sinhá-mocinha para apresentar
He even brought a young lady to introduce
Linda como a luz da lua
Beautiful as the light of the moon
Que em lugar nenhum rebrilha como lá
That shines nowhere else like it does there
Já tem nome de doutor
He now has the title of doctor
E agora na fazenda é quem vai mandar
And now, he is the one in charge of the farm
Seu velho camarada já não brinca, mas trabalha.
His old friend no longer plays, but works hard.
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.