ALegre Menina
Mart'nália Lyrics
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De minha alegre menina?
Palácio real lhe dei
Um trono de pedraria
Sapato bordado a ouro
Esmeraldas e rubis
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
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh
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.