Brazilian MPB-Samba-Rock band, Moinho began as vocalist Emanuelle Araújo mo… Read Full Bio ↴Brazilian MPB-Samba-Rock band, Moinho began as vocalist Emanuelle Araújo moved from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro and fell in love with Lapa, a bohemian neighbourhood of Rio where lots of artists from a broad age range meet and greet. Emanuelle contacted her friend, the amazing percussionist Lan Lan and talked about starting a band. They connected and Lan Lan invited her friend Toni Costa to join them. That was how Moinho was born - a few friends getting together to play. Lightly hearted and cozy as their sound, they started with a few shows in Lapa and went on to record two CDs and one DVD to date. Yet, it feel like they are only starting to make their mark in the Brazilian music scene as they do mix a lot of different sounds into their own and make a true Brazilian shake.

Meu Pai Oxalá
Moinho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Atotф, abaluaiк
Atotф, babб
Atotф, abaluaiк
Atotф, babб

Vem das бguas de Oxalб
Essa mбgoa que me dб
Ela parecia o dia

A romper da escuridгo
Linda no seu manto
Todo branco
Em meio а procissгo
E eu
Que ela nem via
Ao Deus pedia amor
E proteзгo

(2x):
Meu pai Oxalб
Й o rei
Venha me valer
Meu pai Oxalб
Й o rei
Venha me valer
O velho Omulu
Atotф, abaluaiк
O velho Omulu
Atotф, abaluaiк

Que vontade de chorar
No terreiro de Oxalб
Quando eu dei
Com a minha ingrata
Que era filha de Iansг
Com a sua espada
Cor-de-prata
Em meio а multidгo
Cercando Xangф
Num balanceio
Cheio de paixгo

(2x):
Meu pai Oxalб
Й o rei
Venha me valer
Meu pai Oxalб
Й o rei
Venha me valer
O velho Omulu
Atotф, abaluaiк
O velho Omulu
Atotф, abaluaiк

Atotф, abaluaiк
Atotф, babб

Atotф, abaluaiк
Atotф, babб

Overall Meaning

"Meu Pai Oxalá" by Moinho is a song that delves into the Afro-Brazilian spirituality, specifically the Yoruba religion. The song starts with a chant of "Atotф, abaluaiк,/ Atotф, babб" which is an invocation to the orixá Omulu (also known as Obaluaiê), who is regarded as the deity of healing and sickness. The repetition of the chant is meant to draw attention to the importance of Omulu in the singer's life.

The next verse talks about the singer's sadness that seems to have originated from the waters of Oxalá, another orixá known as the father of all orixás. The singer describes a beautiful woman in white who seems to symbolize hope in the midst of darkness. The singer prays to the gods for love and protection but feels as though the woman does not see or recognize his existence.

The chorus continuously repeats the plea to "Meu Pai Oxalá," who is regarded as the king and father of all orixás, to come to their rescue. The last verse describes a moment in the "terreiro" or sacred space of Oxalá where the singer confronts their ungrateful partner, who is identified as the daughter of Iansã, another orixá associated with thunder and lightning. The singer describes a silver sword that symbolizes the power of Xangô, the orixá of justice, as it sways during the confrontation.

Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the spirituality and cultural identity of the Afro-Brazilian people. It emphasizes the importance of the orixás and their ability to provide guidance and protection in times of need.

Line by Line Meaning

Atotф, abaluaiк
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Atotф, babб
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Vem das бguas de Oxalб
This feeling of sadness comes from the influence of Oxalá, the deity of purity and wisdom that rules over fresh water and white orchids

Essa mбgoa que me dб
This emotional pain that I feel

Ela parecia o dia
She was as bright as the morning sun

A romper da escuridгo
Breaking through the darkness

Linda no seu manto
Beautiful in her ceremonial dress

Todo branco
Pure white color symbolizing Oxalá's purity

Em meio а procissгo
In the middle of the religious procession

E eu
And I, unnoticed

Que ela nem via
That she didn't even notice

Ao Deus pedia amor
Praying to God for love

E proteзгo
And protection

(2x): Meu pai Oxalб Й o rei Venha me valer Meu pai Oxalб Й o rei Venha me valer
Repetitive chant asking for help and protection from Oxalá, the king and the wisest of all Yoruba deities

O velho Omulu
Omulu, the old man

Que vontade de chorar
The urge to cry

No terreiro de Oxalб
In the yard of the Oxalá's temple

Quando eu dei
When I realized

Com a minha ingrata
That my lover had betrayed me

Que era filha de Iansг
That she was a daughter of Iansã, the Yoruba goddess of wind, storms, and lightning

Com a sua espada
Bringing her sword

Cor-de-prata
Silver-colored, representing justice

Em meio а multidгo
In the middle of the crowd

Cercando Xangф
Surrounding Shango, the Yoruba god of thunder and fire

Num balanceio
In a dance

Cheio de paixгo
Full of passion

(2x): Meu pai Oxalб Й o rei Venha me valer Meu pai Oxalб Й o rei Venha me valer
Repetitive chant asking for help and protection from Oxalá, the king and the wisest of all Yoruba deities

O velho Omulu
Omulu, the old man

Atotф, abaluaiк
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Atotф, babб
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Atotф, abaluaiк
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Atotф, babб
Repetitive chant invoking the spirits of the Yoruba pantheon

Contributed by Anna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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