The band is considered one of the main groups in Brazilian rock. Like most groups from the 1960s, Os Mutantes were heavily influenced by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Sly & the Family Stone. However, Brazilian musicians were also immersed in their local culture, exercising their own creativity in the use of feedback, distortion and studio tricks of all kinds, just as was done by the Liverpool quartet and the group The Beach Boys. In this sense, Mutantes were pioneers in mixing rock and roll with Brazilian musical and thematic elements. Another characteristic of the group was irreverence. Like Os Mutantes, there began to be a kind of mixture of foreign and Brazilian music and the addition of new ideas, with doses of experimentalism, thus opening the way for musical hybridism.
Os Mutantes began their activities in 1966, as a trio, when they performed on the program O Pequeno Mundo de Ronnie Von on TV Record. On the eve of the program's premiere, the trio had the name "Os Bruxos", but neither Rita Lee nor the Dias Baptista brothers (Arnaldo and Sérgio) were satisfied with that name and wanted to change it. According to Carlos Calado,[2] the idea for the name "Os Mutantes" came from an ironic joke between Alberto Helena Júnior, the program's producer, and Ronnie Von, who, at the time, was reading O Império dos Mutantes, by Stefan Wul, and did not talk about any other subject. "Are you guys still looking for a name for the boys ensemble? Why not The Mutants?" Ronnie Von liked Alberto Helena's idea and took it to the group, who approved it immediately.
The group soon became one of the main exponents of the new MPB, influenced by Tropicália, until it dissolved in 1978. Over these twelve years, nine albums were recorded, two of which - O A e o Z and Tecnicolor - were only released on 1990s, when the group began to be recognized, on the national and international rock scene, as one of the most creative, dynamic, radical and talented of the psychedelic era and the history of world rock. In 2006, the band reunited, without Rita Lee or Liminha, but with the presence of Arnaldo Baptista and Zélia Duncan on vocals. The following year, Arnaldo and Zélia left the band, which was recomposed with other musicians and continues to perform under the leadership of Sérgio Dias, the only remaining member of the original lineup.
Lady Madonna
Os Mutantes Lyrics
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Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who find the money when you pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Pa pa pa pa,
See how they run
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
In "Lady Madonna" by Os Mutantes, the lyrics paint a picture of a strong and resilient woman, affectionately referred to as Lady Madonna. The song begins by acknowledging her ability to provide for her children and make ends meet, despite the challenges and financial struggle she faces. The lyrics express curiosity about how she finds the money to pay the rent, alluding to the idea that she may have to work extremely hard to support her family. However, there is also a suggestion that she may have believed money was somehow divinely sent to her, perhaps as a means of coping with the hardships she experiences.
The song then delves into a series of vivid imagery, describing different moments in the life of Lady Madonna. The lyrics mention Friday night arriving without a suitcase, symbolizing a lack of luxury or material possessions. Sunday morning is depicted as creeping like a nun, perhaps highlighting the solemnity and solitude she may feel in her struggle. The line about Monday's child learning to tie his bootlegs illustrates the idea of resilience and adaptability.
The lyrics then shift to Lady Madonna with a baby at her breast, emphasizing the weight of her responsibilities as a mother. It is highlighted that she wonders how she manages to feed the rest of her children, implying that she may be stretched to her limits. The repetition of the phrase "Pa pa pa pa" adds to the sense of chaos and busyness in her life, perhaps mimicking the sounds of a demanding household.
The song continues with Lady Madonna lying on the bed, listening to music playing in her head. This line may symbolize a brief moment of escape and solace for her, as she allows herself to get lost in the music, momentarily disconnecting from her reality. The lyrics then mention various days of the week, conveying the endless cycle of responsibilities and mundane tasks she faces.
Overall, "Lady Madonna" celebrates the strength and perseverance of a struggling woman who, despite facing hardships and a challenging financial situation, does everything she can to provide for her children.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
A woman who is revered and respected by those around her, with children looking up to her
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
People are amazed at how you are able to support yourself and your family financially
Who find the money when you pay the rent
Who is the source of the money you use to pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent
Do you believe that money comes to you as a blessing from above
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
The weekend comes abruptly and unexpectedly
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Sunday morning comes quietly and slowly, just like a nun would behave
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs
Children born on Mondays have become independent and capable of taking care of themselves
See how they run
Observe how people start moving and taking action
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
You, with a baby nursing at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
The baby wonders how you are able to provide for the other family members
Pa pa pa pa, See how they run
The baby exclaims while observing how everyone around is rushing and bustling
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
The revered woman resting on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Pay attention to the inner thoughts and melodies that occupy your mind
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
The afternoon on Tuesday feels like it goes on forever
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
The newspapers that are usually delivered on Wednesday mornings did not arrive
Thursday night your stocking needed mending
On Thursday night, you had to mend your stocking
See how they run
Observe how people are constantly on the move and in a hurry
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
A woman who is highly respected and admired, with children looking up to her
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
People are amazed at how you are able to meet all your financial obligations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind