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.
Quem é do mar não enjôa
Martinho Da Vila Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chuva fininha é garoa, é garoa
Homem que é homem não chora, não, não chora
Quando a mulher vai embora, vai embora
Quem quiser saber meu nome
Não precisa perguntar
Sou Martinho lá da Vila
Partideiro devagar
Não precisa procurar
Vá aonde tiver samba
Que eu devo estar por lá
Eu cheguei no samba agora
Mas aqui eu vou ficar
Pois quem é mesmo do samba
Vai até o sol raiar
O sereno ta caindo
Ta caindo devagar
Vai cair chuva miúda
E o samba não vai parar
Serenou lá na Mangueira
Serenou lá na Portela
Serenou em Madureira
Serenou lá na favela
Serenou lá no Salgueiro
Serenou lá no Capela
Serenou na minha casa
Serenou na casa dela
Quem tiver mulher bonita
Traga presa na corrente
Eu também já tive a minha
Mas perdi num samba quente
A menina foi embora
Mas um samba vou cantar
Pois está mesmo na hora
De ter outra em seu lugar
The lyrics to Martinho Da Vila's song, Quem é do mar não enjoa, speak about the resilience of those who are accustomed to the sea. In the first verse, the singer states that those who are used to the sea do not get seasick, not even with a light rain. The second verse contrasts this image of toughness with the idea that a real man does not cry when a woman leaves. The third verse introduces the singer, Martinho Da Vila, and his nickname as a laid-back party-goer. He tells people who want to talk to him that they can find him where there is samba because that is where he will be. The final verse talks about how the rain is falling slowly, but the samba will not stop. It ends with a call for anyone who has a beautiful woman to bring her to the party and for the singer to find a new woman in place of the one he lost.
The song conveys a sense of calmness and easygoingness, even in difficult situations, such as when a loved one leaves. This idea is reinforced with the repetition of the phrase "serenou," which means "calmed down," throughout the song. The singer seems to suggest that being around samba and in the company of others can help ease any pain or discomfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem é do mar não enjoa, não enjoa
Those who are accustomed to the sea don't get seasick
Chuva fininha é garoa, é garoa
A light rain is a drizzle, a drizzle
Homem que é homem não chora, não, não chora
A real man doesn't cry, no, won't cry
Quando a mulher vai embora, vai embora
When a woman leaves, she's gone
Quem quiser saber meu nome
Não precisa perguntar
Sou Martinho lá da Vila
Partideiro devagar
If you want to know my name, don't ask me. Just know that I am Martinho from the Vila, a slow party-goer
Quem quiser falar comigo
Não precisa procurar
Vá aonde tiver samba
Que eu devo estar por lá
If you want to talk to me, don't look for me. Go where there's samba, and I should be there
Eu cheguei no samba agora
Mas aqui eu vou ficar
Pois quem é mesmo do samba
Vai até o sol raiar
I just arrived at the samba, but I'm going to stay because those who truly belong to samba stay until the sunrise
O sereno ta caindo
Ta caindo devagar
Vai cair chuva miúda
E o samba não vai parar
The dew is falling slowly, a drizzle will come, but the samba won't stop
Serenou lá na Mangueira
Serenou lá na Portela
Serenou em Madureira
Serenou lá na favela
Serenou lá no Salgueiro
Serenou lá no Capela
Serenou na minha casa
Serenou na casa dela
It's serene in Mangueira, serene in Portela, serene in Madureira, serene in the favela, serene in Salgueiro, serene in Capela, serene at my house, serene at her house
Quem tiver mulher bonita
Traga presa na corrente
Eu também já tive a minha
Mas perdi num samba quente
Whoever has a beautiful woman, bring her in a chain. I also had mine, but I lost her in a hot samba
A menina foi embora
Mas um samba vou cantar
Pois está mesmo na hora
De ter outra em seu lugar
The girl left, but I'm going to sing another samba. It's time to have someone else in her place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martinho Da Vila
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind