ALegre Menina
Mart'nália Lyrics


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O que fizeste, sultão
De minha alegre menina?

Palácio real lhe dei
Um trono de pedraria
Sapato bordado a ouro
Esmeraldas e rubis
Ametista para os dedos
Vestidos de diamantes
Escravas para servi-la
Um lugar no meu dossel

E a chamei de rainha
E a chamei de rainha

O que fizeste, sultão
De minha alegre menina?

Só desejava campina
Colher as flores do mato
Só desejava um espelho
De vidro pra se mirar

Só desejava do sol
Calor para bem viver
Só desejava o luar
De prata pra repousar

Só desejava o amor
Dos homens pra bem amar
Só desejava o amor
Dos homens pra bem amar

No baile real levei
A tua alegre menina
Vestida de realeza
Com princesas conversou

Com doutores praticou
Dançou a dança faceira
Bebeu o vinho mais caro
Mordeu fruta estrangeira

Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha mais verdadeira
Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha a mais verdadeira

Nã-ni-nã
Nã-nã-nã-ni-ni
Eira-eira

O que fizeste, sultão
De minha alegre menina?

Só desejava a campina
Colher as flores do mato
Só desejava um espelho
De vidro pra se mirar

Só desejava do sol
Calor para bem viver
Só desejava o luar
De prata pra repousar

Só desejava o amor
Dos homens pra bem amar
Só desejava o amor
Dos homens pra bem amar

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

No baile real levei
A tua alegre menina
Vestida de realeza
Com princesas conversou

Com doutores praticou
Dançou a dança faceira
Bebeu o vinho mais caro
Mordeu fruta estrangeira

Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha mais verdadeira
Entrou nos braços do rei
Rainha a mais verdadeira





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Overall Meaning

The song "Alegre Menina" by Brazilian singer Mart'nália tells the story of a sultan who tries to make his joyful girl happy by offering her everything that money can buy, but in doing so takes away from what really matters to her. The sultan gives her a royal palace, a throne made of precious stones, and ornate shoes and jewelry, but all she really wishes for is a simple life spent collecting flowers in a meadow and admiring herself in a glass mirror. She desires nothing more than sunshine, moonlight, and most of all, genuine love from others.


The second verse continues the theme of the sultan not understanding the girl's simple desires. Despite her contentment with the natural world and basic comforts, he takes her to a royal ball where she is dressed like a queen and converses with other royalty. The girl continues to dance and drink fancy wine, but the one moment where she seems genuinely happy is when she falls into the arms of the king, finding comfort and love where she desired it most.


The lyrics of "Alegre Menina" speak to the simplicity of happiness, and the idea that material possessions can never replace the warmth of human connection. Despite the sultan's attempts to make the girl happy by showering her with wealth and luxury, it is only when she is embraced by the king that she finds true joy.


Line by Line Meaning

O que fizeste, sultão
What have you done, Sultan?


De minha alegre menina?
To my happy little girl?


Palácio real lhe dei
I gave her a royal palace


Um trono de pedraria
A throne made of precious stones


Sapato bordado a ouro
Shoes embroidered with gold


Esmeraldas e rubis
Emeralds and rubies


Ametista para os dedos
Amethysts for her fingers


Vestidos de diamantes
Dresses covered in diamonds


Escravas para servi-la
Slaves to serve her


Um lugar no meu dossel
A place in my canopy bed


E a chamei de rainha
And I called her queen


Só desejava campina
All she wanted was a field


Colher as flores do mato
To pick wildflowers


Só desejava um espelho
All she wanted was a mirror


De vidro pra se mirar
Made of glass to see herself


Só desejava do sol
All she wanted was the sun


Calor para bem viver
To live well with its warmth


Só desejava o luar
All she wanted was the moon


De prata pra repousar
To rest in its silver light


Só desejava o amor
All she wanted was love


Dos homens pra bem amar
From men to love well


No baile real levei
I took her to a royal ball


A tua alegre menina
Your happy little girl


Vestida de realeza
Dressed like royalty


Com princesas conversou
She conversed with princesses


Com doutores praticou
She practiced with doctors


Dançou a dança faceira
Danced a lively dance


Bebeu o vinho mais caro
Drank the most expensive wine


Mordeu fruta estrangeira
Bit into exotic fruit


Entrou nos braços do rei
She entered the king's arms


Rainha mais verdadeira
The truest queen


Nã-ni-nã
Nah-nah-nah


Nã-nã-nã-ni-ni
Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah


Eira-eira
Era-era


Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh




Writer(s): Dorival Tostes Caymmi, Jorge Amado

Contributed by Alexandra A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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