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.
Mirra ouro incenso
Martinho Da Vila Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que havia guardado pra Deus
E a mirra, o ouro, o incenso
Eu também entreguei pra você
Por aí eu fui me despojando
Dos meus bens e de todos legados
Não valeram meus tantos cuidados
Se perdi o melhor que sonhei
E dourei seus caminhos de luz
Povoei o seu chão com as estrelas
Que Orestes um dia pintou
Mas percebo agora de longe
Que você nelas jamais pisou
The lyrics of Martinho Da Vila's song "Mirra ouro incenso" are about the singer's confession of his unrequited love for someone. The song uses religious symbols, such as alfazema (lavender), mirra, ouro (gold), and incenso (incense), to describe the singer's willingness to give up everything for this person. The singer says that he gave the portions of alfazema that he had kept for God to this person and also handed over the mirra, ouro, and incenso to them. The song suggests that the singer has lost everything he had, including the things that he had carefully preserved for years. However, he states that he doesn't regret losing anything, as long as he has this person with him.
The singer also talks about building a "presépio de areia" or a sand manger, with the light of the stars painted by Orestes, and how he filled it with stars. However, he realizes that the person he loves has never stepped on this ground he has prepared for them. All his efforts seem to have been in vain, as the person he loves didn't reciprocate his love.
Overall, the song is a lament of unrequited love, where the singer expresses his willingness to give up everything he has for this person, even if they don't acknowledge it. The use of religious symbols such as mirra, ouro, and incenso enhances the emotional depth of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu lhe dei as porções de alfazema
I gave you the portions of lavender
Que havia guardado pra Deus
which I had saved for God
E a mirra, o ouro, o incenso
And the myrrh, the gold, the incense
Eu também entreguei pra você
I also gave to you
Por aí eu fui me despojando
Along the way, I was stripping myself
Dos meus bens e de todos legados
of my belongings and all my legacies
Não valeram meus tantos cuidados
My many cares were not worth it
Se perdi o melhor que sonhei
If I lost the best I dreamed of
Construí um presépio de areia
I built a manger of sand
E dourei seus caminhos de luz
And gilded its paths with light
Povoei o seu chão com as estrelas
I peopled your ground with the stars
Que Orestes um dia pintou
That Orestes once painted
Mas percebo agora de longe
But now I realize from afar
Que você nelas jamais pisou
That you never stepped on them
Writer(s): Herminio Bello De Carvalho, Martinho Jose Ferreira
Contributed by Caden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@maurotaco6396
Eu lhe dei as porções de alfazema
Que havia guardado pra Deus
E a mirra, o ouro, o incenso
Eu também entreguei pra você
Por aí eu fui me despojando
Dos meus bens e de todos legados
Não valeram meus tantos cuidados
Se perdi o melhor que sonhei
Construí um presépio de areia
E dourei seus caminhos de luz
Povoei o seu chão com as estrelas
Que Orestes um dia pintou
Mas percebo agora de longe
Que você nelas jamais pisou
@fatimareis2222
Lindíssima na voz de Martinho da Vila, essa linda poesia de Hermínio Belo de Carvalho 👏👏👏👏👏 Bravo!!!!!
@ateamesacomlucianadiniz438
Que perfeição essa alquimia. Poesia, Música, e a voz de Martinho. Que linda letra...
@izabellemmartins
Amo amo amo
@marlenecorreia9544
Qui musica maravilhosa !!! Lindaaa
@maurotaco6396
Eu lhe dei as porções de alfazema
Que havia guardado pra Deus
E a mirra, o ouro, o incenso
Eu também entreguei pra você
Por aí eu fui me despojando
Dos meus bens e de todos legados
Não valeram meus tantos cuidados
Se perdi o melhor que sonhei
Construí um presépio de areia
E dourei seus caminhos de luz
Povoei o seu chão com as estrelas
Que Orestes um dia pintou
Mas percebo agora de longe
Que você nelas jamais pisou
@csaracho2009
Gracias Mauro Tao!
Hermoso poema!
@celsosilva3587
Muito lindo,ouvir esse mestre cantando essa maravilha
@CarlosAlexandre-nf3si
Linda música a melhor do mundo❤
@helenapereira989
Que lindo poema❤️❤️❤️❤️ena voz doMartinho não tenho palavras ♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🎂
@arletemariamaria4826
Música linda do nosso querido Martinho da Vila.