Martinho da Vila (born Martinho José Ferreira on February 12, 1938 in Duas … Read Full Bio ↴Martinho da Vila (born Martinho José Ferreira on February 12, 1938 in Duas Barras, Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian samba musician (singer and composer).

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.

Salve A Mulatada Brasileira
Martinho Da Vila Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eeeh!
Eh, Zeca Baleiro!
Salve, Martinho da Vila
Salve a mulatada brasileira
Salve, salve!

Ô, Vanina
Vanina bonita, bonita Vanina

Gente boa, gente fina, Vanina
Queres saber?
Vou te dizer

Minha bisavó era purinha, bem limpinha
De Angola
O meu bisavô também purinho, bem limpinho
De Moçambique

Eu não sou branquinho, nem pretinho
A minha dona é moreninha
Eu tenho muitos mulatinhos, salve, salve

Salve a mulatada brasileira
Salve a mulatada brasileira, salve, salve
Salve a mulatada brasileira

José do Patrocínio
Aleijadinho
Machado de Assis que também era mulatinho

Salve a mulatada brasileira
Salve a mulatada brasileira, salve, salve
Salve a mulatada brasileira

Se o amor é lindo, a flor é bela
E a natureza sempre sorrindo

Vivo no mundo pra aprender
E nada sei pra ensinar
Só o que eu sei, que eu sei fazer
É te querer, te sublimar e te deixar em paz

Vanina linda
Vanina linda
Lisboa é linda
E a Porto infinda

Luanda é linda, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
Também Cabinda
E lá em Díli, Timor-Leste
Serás bem-vinda ou bem ida

Maputo é fina, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
E Petrolina, ô Vanina
A nossa Rio de Janeiro, tão bonita
Maravilhinda

Serei menino só pra ti, menina
Nina, nina, nina, nina
Às vezes eu te vejo tão felina
Linda Vanina, ô divina, ô divina

Olinda é linda, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
Diamantina, ô Vanina
E a minha limpa Duas Barras, pequenina
É mais que linda

Salve a mulatada brasileira, salve, salve
Salve a mulatada brasileira
Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina
Salve a mulatada brasileira

Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina
Salve a mulatada brasileira
Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina
Salve a mulatada brasileira

Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina
Salve a mulatada brasileira (salve, salve)
Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina
Salve a mulatada brasileira

Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanina

Salve a mulatada brasileira (salve, salve)
Salve a mulatada brasileira, ô Vanin...

Overall Meaning

The song "Salve A Mulatada Brasileira" by Martinho Da Vila celebrates and pays tribute to the mulatto people in Brazil. The lyrics start with greetings to Zeca Baleiro and Martinho da Vila himself, followed by the invocation to salute the Brazilian mulatto community. The song then goes into a description of the singer's ancestry, stating that his great-grandmother was from Angola, and his great-grandfather from Mozambique. He emphasizes that he is neither light-skinned nor dark-skinned but notes that his mistress is of a brown complexion. He proudly acknowledges the presence of many mulatto children and celebrates a diverse range of influential mulatto figures in Brazilian history, from José do Patrocínio to Aleijadinho and Machado de Assis.

The song acknowledges the beauty of love, nature, and various cities across the world, including Lisbon, Porto, Luanda, Cabinda, Díli, Maputo, Petrolina, Rio de Janeiro, Olinda, Diamantina, and Duas Barras. The lyrics express a desire to remain a child for the beloved, referring to her as "nina" and highlighting her feline-like qualities. The chorus repeats the salutation to the mulatto people of Brazil, particularly addressing Vanina, and ends with a final salute.

Line by Line Meaning

Eeeh!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm.

Eh, Zeca Baleiro!
Greetings to Zeca Baleiro.

Salve, Martinho da Vila
Greetings to Martinho da Vila.

Salve a mulatada brasileira
Celebrate the Brazilian mixed-race people.

Salve, salve!
Heartfelt greetings.

Ô, Vanina
Oh, Vanina.

Vanina bonita, bonita Vanina
Beautiful Vanina.

Gente boa, gente fina, Vanina
Good people, fine people, Vanina.

Queres saber?
Do you want to know?

Vou te dizer
I will tell you.

Minha bisavó era purinha, bem limpinha
My great-grandmother was pure, very clean.

De Angola
From Angola.

O meu bisavô também purinho, bem limpinho
My great-grandfather was also pure, very clean.

De Moçambique
From Mozambique.

Eu não sou branquinho, nem pretinho
I am neither light-skinned nor dark-skinned.

A minha dona é moreninha
My partner is a little brown-skinned.

Eu tenho muitos mulatinhos, salve, salve
I have many mixed-race children, greetings.

José do Patrocínio
Referring to José do Patrocínio, a prominent abolitionist and writer.

Aleijadinho
Referring to Aleijadinho, a famous Brazilian sculptor.

Machado de Assis que também era mulatinho
Referring to Machado de Assis, a renowned mulatto writer.

Se o amor é lindo, a flor é bela
If love is beautiful, the flower is beautiful.

E a natureza sempre sorrindo
And nature always smiling.

Vivo no mundo pra aprender
I live in this world to learn.

E nada sei pra ensinar
And I don't know anything to teach.

Só o que eu sei, que eu sei fazer
But what I know, I know how to do.

É te querer, te sublimar e te deixar em paz
It is to desire you, to elevate you and leave you in peace.

Vanina linda
Beautiful Vanina.

Lisboa é linda
Lisbon is beautiful.

E a Porto infinda
And the endless Porto.

Luanda é linda, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
Luanda is beautiful, oh Vanina.

Também Cabinda
Also Cabinda.

E lá em Díli, Timor-Leste
And there in Dili, East Timor.

Serás bem-vinda ou bem ida
You will be welcome or farewell.

Maputo é fina, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
Maputo is fine, oh Vanina.

E Petrolina, ô Vanina
And Petrolina, oh Vanina.

A nossa Rio de Janeiro, tão bonita
Our Rio de Janeiro, so beautiful.

Maravilhinda
"Maravilhinda" is a combination of "maravilhosa" (marvelous) and "linda" (beautiful).

Serei menino só pra ti, menina
I will be a boy just for you, girl.

Nina, nina, nina, nina
Nina, nina, nina, nina.

Às vezes eu te vejo tão felina
Sometimes I see you as so feline.

Linda Vanina, ô divina, ô divina
Beautiful Vanina, oh divine.

Olinda é linda, ô Vanina, ô Vanina
Olinda is beautiful, oh Vanina.

Diamantina, ô Vanina
Diamantina, oh Vanina.

E a minha limpa Duas Barras, pequenina
And my clean Duas Barras, so small.

É mais que linda
It is more than beautiful.

Salve a mulatada brasileira, salve, salve
Celebrate the Brazilian mixed-race people, greetings.