Raised in Bahia's hinterlands, Moraes Moreira approached the violão (acoustic guitar), influenced by Roberto Carlos. At 19, he moved to Salvado, BA, where he frequented classes at the Seminário de Música da Bahia. He then joined the vocal quartet Canto Quatro, a MPB-4 clone who accompanied Dorival Caymmi. He took some music classes with Tom Zé and discovered his craze for the trios-elétricos. In the boarding house where he lived in Salvador, he became acquainted with Paulinho Boca de Cantor and Luís Galvão, with whom he would form Os Novos Baianos in 1968. In 1975, he left the group for his solo career. In 1976, he joined the historic Trio Elétrico de Dodô e Osmar (the first of Bahia), who still had a novice (but already virtuosic) mandolinist, Armandinho. Moreira had huge success with that project, which led him to write frevos and sambas for the group, becoming a prominent fighter in the cause of the Bahian Carnival. He produced two LPs with the Trio Elétrico, the last one being É a Massa. "Pombo Correio," released in 1978, reached the national hit parade. In 1983, he developed his Projeto Brasil, a series of shows through all of Brazil's capitals that explored the rich folklore of the Carnival of Bahia.
Lá Vem o Brasil Descendo a Ladeira
Moraes Moreira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A7
Não morre no asfalto
(BIS)
Lá vem o Brasil,
D
Bm
Na bola, no samba,
A7
Na sola, no salto
Lá vem o Brasil,
D
Descendo a ladeira
Bm
Da sua escola é passista
A7
De primeira
Lá vem o Brasil,
D
Descendo a ladeira
Bm
No equilíbrio da lata
A7
Não é brincadeira
Lá vem o Brasil,
D
Descendo a ladeira
C#7
E toda a cidade
C7 B7
Que andava quieta
Naquela madrugada
Em
Acordou mais cedo
F#
Arriscando um verso
Bm
Gritou o poeta
E
Respondeu o povo
A7
Num samba sem medo
D C#7
E enquanto a mulata
C7 B7
Em pleno movimento
Com tanta cadência
Em
Descia a ladeira
Gm
A todos mostrava
D
Naquele momento
B7 Em
A força que tem
A7 D
The opening line of the song, "Quem desce do morro, não morre no asfalto" which translates to "Those who descend from the hill, don't die on the asphalt.", suggests a contrast between the vitality of the communities living in the favelas and the impersonal and almost deadening nature of urban life. The following lines "Lá vem o Brasil descendo a ladeira" which translates to "Here comes Brazil going down the hill" describe the resilience, strength, and creativity with which the Brazilian population has faced life's challenges. This is supported by the mention of various artistic expressions such as samba, acrobatics, and poetry that are mentioned in the lyrics.
The repeated chorus, "Lá vem o Brasil, descendo a ladeira", emphasizes the idea of a nation moving forward despite the struggles it has faced. The mention of 'primeira' (first) adds a competitive edge that hints at Brazil's spirit of competition and excellence in various fields.
The imagery of a city that was once quiet but awakens with the arrival of Brazil's creative and lively population is significant. The song highlights how the people bring the city to life as they move down the hill while the rest of the town is still asleep. In this way, the song reflects a sense of national pride that celebrates Brazil and its people.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem desce do morro
Those who come down from the hill, where life is hard but they survive, can handle the challenges of the urban world.
Não morre no asfalto
They won't die in the asphalt jungle.
Lá vem o Brasil, Descendo a ladeira
Here comes Brazil, struggling down the slope of progress.
Na bola, no samba, Na sola, no salto
With the ball, the samba rhythm, the fancy footwork, and the adventurous spirit, we are making our way.
Da sua escola é passista De primeira
The dancer from a strong samba school dances with skill and pride.
No equilíbrio da lata Não é brincadeira
With the balance of a can, we can show off our moves without losing a step.
E toda a cidade Que andava quieta
The whole city that was silent and dormant is now awakened by the sounds of our culture.
Naquela madrugada Acordou mais cedo
On that morning, the city woke up earlier than usual.
Arriscando um verso Gritou o poeta
A poet took a chance to express himself and shouted out his words.
Respondeu o povo Num samba sem medo
The people responded fearlessly with a samba rhythm.
E enquanto a mulata Em pleno movimento
And while the mulata is dancing with all her heart and soul,
Com tanta cadência Descia a ladeira
With so much rhythm and grace, she descends the hill.
A todos mostrava Naquele momento
She shows everyone at that moment
A força que tem
The strength that she possesses.
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.