Arraial
Renato Teixeira Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

E toda noite a viola rasga
Uma cana verde pra disfarçar
E a gente canta invejando o fogo
Que a gente acende pra se esquentar
Me diz compadre o que é que se passa
Pela cabeça do pessoal
Que é feito um sino soando triste
Num fim de tarde lá no arraial
Se vai roçando a vida na guerra
Do dia-a-dia pra se constatar
Que só nos cabe o que o velho lobo
Não conseguiu pôr no seu bornal
Que coisa triste, meu bom compadre,
Sentir inveja de um animal
Correndo livre, sem compromisso,




Pelas campinas do arraial
Se vai roçando... arraial

Overall Meaning

In Renato Teixeira's song "Arraial", the lyrics describe a scene in a small town where every night the guitar is played to distract and cover up the sadness and jealousy felt by the people. As they warm themselves by the fire, they sing enviously of the freedom of the wolf who runs carefree through the fields. The singer asks his friend what is going on in the heads of the people, comparing them to a sad bell ringing at the end of the day in the town square. The song reflects on the struggles of everyday life and how people try to cope with it, by pretending that everything is fine and being envious of a simple animal who knows no struggles.


The use of nature and the concept of freedom is a recurring theme throughout the song. The people in the town yearn for the same freedom that the wolf has, but they are confined to their daily struggles. The guitar is also used as a symbol of escape, a way for the people to momentarily forget about their problems and sing along, creating a moment of connection with each other. The song ultimately portrays a sense of melancholy and longing for something more, perhaps a simpler life where one can be as carefree and wild as the wolf.


Line by Line Meaning

E toda noite a viola rasga
Every night, the guitar plays


Uma cana verde pra disfarçar
Green sugar cane to disguise


E a gente canta invejando o fogo
And we sing, envying the fire


Que a gente acende pra se esquentar
That we light up to warm ourselves


Me diz compadre o que é que se passa
Tell me, my friend, what is going on


Pela cabeça do pessoal
In people's minds


Que é feito um sino soando triste
It sounds like a sad bell


Num fim de tarde lá no arraial
In the late afternoon in the village


Se vai roçando a vida na guerra
Life goes on in the struggle


Do dia-a-dia pra se constatar
To be realized in the day-to-day


Que só nos cabe o que o velho lobo
That only what the old wolf couldn't catch is left for us


Não conseguiu pôr no seu bornal
Couldn't put in his bag


Que coisa triste, meu bom compadre,
What a sad thing, my good friend,


Sentir inveja de um animal
To feel envy of an animal


Correndo livre, sem compromisso,
Running free, without obligation


Pelas campinas do arraial
Through the fields of the village


Se vai roçando... arraial
Life goes on... in the village




Writer(s): Renato Teixeira de Oliveira Copyright: Warner/Chappell Edicoes Musicais Ltda

Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Marcos Benaia

Toda a obra do Renato Teixeira é inspiração de Deus 🙏

Marcos Benaia

Uma das minhas músicas preferidas do Renato Teixeira.

More Versions