Ribeiro started his artistic career by providing singing and voices in Walt Disney animated movies. In 1944, he acted in the film Berlim na Batucada, by Luís de Barros. His debut on radio was in 1959, on Rádio Nacional, where he took his stage name Pery Ribeiro on suggestion of his godfather César de Alencar. In 1960, Ribeiro had his first song, "Não Devo Insistir" (written with Dora Lopes), recorded by Dalva de Oliveira. Ribeiro recorded his first single in the same year. In 1961, he recorded the bossa nova classics "Manhã de Carnaval" and "Samba de Orfeu" (both by Luís Bonfá and Antônio Maria) and "Barquinho" (Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli), among others.
The first LP came in 1962, “Pery Ribeiro e Seu Mundo de Canções Românticas”, backed by Luís Bonfá on the guitar. In the next year, "Pery é Todo Bossa" had an enormous success with the first recording of "Garota de Ipanema" (by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes), along with other bossa nova classics like "Me Lembro Vagamente," "Nós e o Mar," "Ah! Se eu Pudesse," and "Rio" (all by Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli) and originals.
In 1965, he formed the group "Gemini V" with Leny Andradel and the bossa nova trio Bossa 3. They performed at the Porão 73 club and at the Princesa Isabel theater ("Rio"), also releasing a live record of the shows. In 1966, Ribeiro went to the U.S. where he joined the Bossa Rio (Sérgio Mendes, Gracinha Leporace, Osmar Milito, Manfredo Fest, Otávio Bailly, and Ronnie Mesquita), performing in several American cities.
Pery Ribeiro passed away on February 24, 2012.
Berimbau
Pery Ribeiro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O amor que lhe quer seu bem
Quem diz muito que vai não vai
Assim como não vai, não vem
Quem de dentro de si não sai
Vai morrer sem amar ninguém
O dinheiro de quem não dá
Capoeira que é bom não cai
E se um dia ele cai, cai bem
Capoeira me mandou
Dizer que já chegou
Chegou para lutar
Berimbau me confirmou
Vai ter briga de amor
Tristeza, camará
Capoeira me mandou
Dizer que já chegou
Chegou para lutar
Berimbau me confirmou
Vai ter briga de amor
Tristeza, camará
Tristeza, camará
Tristeza, camará
The lyrics to Pery Ribeiro's song Berimbau convey a series of messages about love, commitment, and the value of hard work. The opening lines refer to the importance of fidelity and loyalty in a loving relationship. The singer asserts that a good man never betrays the one whom he loves, because he knows that love is the foundation of his well-being. The next lines suggest that talk is cheap and that actions speak louder than words. The singer advises that one should not make false promises or commitments that he cannot keep.
The third set of lines, "Quem de dentro de si não sai / Vai morrer sem amar ninguém," speaks to the importance of expressing oneself freely and authentically. The singer suggests that one who does not come out of their shell and share their heart with others is doomed to live a life without love. The last two lines emphasize the connection between generosity and progress in life. The singer says that those who do not give, do not receive, and the work they do is only for their own benefit, while the fruits of labor belong to those who are more forthright and giving.
The final verses of the song allude to capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. The singer mentions that capoeira will fight for its rightful place and that there might be "briga de amor" (a fight for love) ahead. The repetition of "tristeza, camará" at the end of the song conveys a sense of sadness and solidarity, reminding us that even in times of trouble, we have each other to lean on.
Overall, the lyrics of Berimbau encourage us to be honest, genuine, and generous in our dealings with others, to value love and commitment, and to stand up for what we believe in, even when faced with resistance.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem é homem de bem não trai
A good man doesn't betray the love that cares for him
O amor que lhe quer seu bem
That is, the love that wants his well-being
Quem diz muito que vai não vai
Someone who talks too much about doing something never actually does it
Assim como não vai, não vem
And just like that, he neither goes nor comes
Quem de dentro de si não sai
Whoever doesn't exit from within himself
Vai morrer sem amar ninguém
Will die without ever having loved anyone
O dinheiro de quem não dá
The money that someone doesn't give
É o trabalho de quem não tem
Is the work of those who don't have it
Capoeira que é bom não cai
A good capoeira never falls
E se um dia ele cai, cai bem
And if he ever falls, he falls well
Capoeira me mandou
Capoeira sent me
Dizer que já chegou
To say that it has already arrived
Chegou para lutar
And it came to fight
Berimbau me confirmou
The berimbau confirmed it to me
Vai ter briga de amor
There will be a fight of love
Tristeza, camará
Sadness, friend
Tristeza, camará
Sadness, friend
Writer(s): Vinicius De Moraes, Baden Powell
Contributed by Aiden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.