He is most associated with the samba school Vila Isabel, and his own compositions (sambas de enredo) have been annually inaugurated by Vila Isabel in Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval competition for decades. His signature song, "Casa de Bamba," which dates back to the 1970s, is one of Brazilians' most beloved sambas. At age 74, he is still doing concerts and his lyrics continue to rally the spirits of audiences throughout Brazil. His 1995 CD "Ta Delicia Ta Gostoso" sold more than a million copies. His music shows influence from the region where he was born, such as the calango rhythm.
Martinho is politically active and a prominent figure and spokesperson for Afro-Brazilian issues as well as for the Brazilian Communist Party. He is the author of six books, and has been a recording artist since 1969.
Femmes
Martinho Da Vila Lyrics
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De divers âges, très amoureuses
Certaines, je suis resté un temps avec
À d'autres, peu je me suis confié
J'ai déjà eu des femmes osées
Timides et rodées
Mariées, carentes, solitaires, heureuses
J'ai déjà eu des divas et même des prostituées
Femmes confuses, de guerre et de paix
Mais aucune d'elles ne m'a rendu tant heureux
Comme toi
Já tive mulheres de todas as cores
De várias idades de muitos amores
Com umas até certo tempo fiquei
Com umas apenas um pouco me dei
Já tive mulheres do tipo atrevida
Do tipo acanhada, do tipo vivida
Casada, carente, solteira, feliz
Já tive donzela e até meretriz
Mulheres cabeça, e desequilibradas
Mulheres confusas, de guerra e paz
Mas nenhuma delas me fez tão feliz
Como você me faz
Procurei em todas as mulheres a felicidade
Mas não encontrei e fiquei na saudade
Foi começando bem, mas tudo teve fim
Você é o sol da minha vida, a minha vontade
Você não é mentira, você é verdade
É tudo que um dia eu sonhei para mim
Ó meu amor
In Martinho Da Vila's song "Femmes," the lyrics explore the singer's experiences with women of different backgrounds and characteristics. He reflects on his past relationships, expressing that he has had women of all colors and ages who were very much in love with him. Some of these women he spent a considerable amount of time with, while others he only briefly connected with. The singer reveals that he has encountered bold and confident women, as well as shy ones who were more experienced in life. He has been involved with married, needy, single, and happy women. He has had relationships with both innocent and promiscuous women, intelligent but unbalanced women, as well as women caught in the complexities of war and peace. Despite these varied experiences, none of them have brought him as much happiness as the person he is currently in love with.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes how his search for happiness led him to explore relationships with different women, but he ultimately finds himself longing for something more. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning and a realization that true happiness is not found in the external traits or characteristics of someone, but in the connection and love shared between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai déjà eu des femmes de toutes les couleurs
I have already had women of all different colors
De divers âges, très amoureuses
Of various ages, very loving
Certaines, je suis resté un temps avec
With some, I stayed for a while
À d'autres, peu je me suis confié
To others, I confided very little
J'ai déjà eu des femmes osées
I have already had bold women
Timides et rodées
Shy and experienced
Mariées, carentes, solitaires, heureuses
Married, needy, solitary, happy
J'ai déjà eu des divas et même des prostituées
I have already had divas and even prostitutes
Femmes intelligentes et déséquilibrées
Intelligent and unbalanced women
Femmes confuses, de guerre et de paix
Confused women, of war and peace
Mais aucune d'elles ne m'a rendu tant heureux
But none of them have made me so happy
Comme toi
Like you
Já tive mulheres de todas as cores
I have already had women of all colors
De várias idades de muitos amores
Of various ages, with many loves
Com umas até certo tempo fiquei
With some, I stayed for a certain time
Com umas apenas um pouco me dei
With some, I only gave a little
Já tive mulheres do tipo atrevida
I have already had bold women
Do tipo acanhada, do tipo vivida
Of the shy type, of the experienced type
Casada, carente, solteira, feliz
Married, needy, single, happy
Já tive donzela e até meretriz
I have already had a maiden and even a prostitute
Mulheres cabeça, e desequilibradas
Intelligent women and unbalanced women
Mulheres confusas, de guerra e paz
Confused women, of war and peace
Mas nenhuma delas me fez tão feliz
But none of them made me so happy
Como você me faz
Like you make me
Procurei em todas as mulheres a felicidade
I searched for happiness in all women
Mas não encontrei e fiquei na saudade
But I didn't find it and I was left longing
Foi começando bem, mas tudo teve fim
It started well, but everything had an end
Você é o sol da minha vida, a minha vontade
You are the sun of my life, my desire
Você não é mentira, você é verdade
You are not a lie, you are truth
É tudo que um dia eu sonhei para mim
It is everything I once dreamed for myself
Ó meu amor
Oh my love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTINHO JOSE FERREIRA, ANTONIO EUSTAQUIO TRINDADE RIBEIRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind