Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer… Read Full Bio ↴Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitarist, who is considered one of the foremost icons of Brazilian popular music. His work spans a multitude of genres, from contemporary folk to jazz, and is often rooted in the traditional and indigenous music of the country.

Nascimento was born in Rio de Janeiro, and grew up in Três Pontas, Minas Gerais. His mother was the maid Maria do Carmo Nascimento. When he was just a few months old, the boy was adopted by the family for whom his mother had previously worked: the couple Josino Brito Campos (a banker, mathematics teacher and electronic technician) and Lília Silva Campos (a music teacher). He lived in the boroughs of Laranjeiras and Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. When he was 18 months old, his biological mother died and he moved with his adoptive parents to the city of Três Pontas, in the State of Minas Gerais.

In the earlier stages of his career, Nascimento played in two samba groups, Evolussamba and Sambacana. In 1963 he moved to Belo Horizonte, and his friendship with the Borges brothers (Marilton, Márcio e Lô Borges) led to the Clube da Esquina ("corner club") movement. Other members included Beto Guedes, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, and Flavio Venturini.

Nascimento is famous for his chime-clear falsetto and tonal range, as well for highly acclaimed songs such as "Canção da América" ("Song from America") and "Coração de Estudante" ("Student's Heart"). The lyrics of "Coração de Estudante" remembers the funeral of the student Edson Luís, killed by police officers in 1968. The song became the hymn for the diretas Já campaign in 1984 and it was also played in the funeral of the late president Tancredo Neves the next year, who died before assuming the presidency.

While his reputation within Brazil was firmly established with his Clube da Esquina works, Nascimento's international breakthrough came with his appearance on jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter's 1974 album "Native Dancer". This led to widespread acclaim, and collaborations with American stars such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Pat Metheny.

Through his friendship with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, Nascimento came to work with the pop-rock band Duran Duran in 1993. Nascimento co-wrote and performed (in the Portuguese language) the song "Breath After Breath", featured on the band's 1993 album "Duran Duran". He also performed with the band in concert when they toured in Brazil, in support of that album. Nascimento earned a Grammy award for "Best World Music Album" in 1998 for his album "Nascimento", and was also nominated in 1991 and 1995.

Circo Marimbondo
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

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Circo Marimbondo
Circo Marambaia
Eu cheguei de longe
Não me "atrapaia"
Vê se não me amola
Larga a minha saia

Circo Marimbondo

Circo Marambaia

Se eu te der um tombo
Tomara que caia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Milton Nascimento Feat. Clementina De Jesus's song "Circo Marimbondo" is about the circus, specifically about the two circuses mentioned in the chorus, "Circo Marimbondo" and "Circo Marambaia." The singer arrives from far away and asks not to be bothered, saying "Não me atrapaia" which means "Don't bother me." The line "Vê se não me amola, larga a minha saia" translates to "See if you don't bother me, leave my skirt" and may refer to unwanted advances from someone associated with the circus.

The second half of the chorus is a play on words, "Se eu te der um tombo, tomara que caia," which can be translated as "If I give you a fall, I hope you fall," but also has a double meaning in Portuguese, where "tomara que caia" can refer to a strapless garment, thus playing with the idea of someone's clothing falling off.

Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the circus and its performers, possibly expressing frustration with some of the people associated with it. The use of wordplay and double meanings adds a layer of complexity to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Circo Marimbondo
This is the title of the song.

Circo Marambaia
Refers to a circus or an unstable, chaotic situation.

Eu cheguei de longe
Indicates the singer has come from far away or has overcome challenges to reach their current position.

Não me "atrapaia"
Means 'don't mess with me' or 'don't get in my way'.

Vê se não me amola
Translates to 'don't annoy me'.

Larga a minha saia
Literally means 'let go of my skirt', but figuratively tells someone to stop holding on to them or to leave them alone.

Se eu te der um tombo
Means 'if I give you a fall', which can be interpreted as a warning or threat.

Tomara que caia
This phrase is often used to express a desire for something to fall or fail.

Contributed by Alyssa D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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