Given tha… Read Full Bio ↴A poly-rhythmic slice of boogie previously fetching £250+.
Given that Melodies International’s last release was the sublime reissue of Franke Knuckles’ Womack & Womack ‘Missing Person’s Bureau’ edits, you’d be forgiven for thinking that, perhaps, their next record might not measure up.
Listen next: Discover the scorching sound of ’60s Brazilian bossa
Following in equally stellar fashion, however, is the label’s 12th release – the first ever reissue of Trio Ternura’s coveted and elusive MPB 7″ ‘A Gira’ / ‘Last Tango in Paris’.
Trio Ternura (which translates to Tenderness Trio), was truly a family affair – the group consisted of three siblings, with other members of their family assuming songwriting and instrumental duties.
Originally released in 1973, ‘A Gira’ was created by Trio Ternura’s father and uncle, as an homage to the Candomblé deity.
According to the siblings, the song “has the dancing, the expression, the lyrics and musical relaxation – something very Brazilian.”
Described by Melodies as “a tribute to nature, spirituality and mindfulness,” ‘A Gira’ fuses Brazilian influences with percussive poly-rhythms.
The track is backed with Trio Ternura’s version of Gato Barbieri’s ‘Last Tango in Paris’ on the reverse, and accompanied by the first bilingual issue of Melodies’ Melozine.
A GIRA
Trio Ternura Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele é caboclo e da mata
Na cachoeira passou
Veio ver seus filhos na terra
Trazendo o bem e o amor
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Pra combater a mandiga
Correu a gira girou
Os males de todo o mundo
Para o espaço levou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Com pensamento em meu pai
Nada tenho que temer
Ele só me pede a fé
E a fé no mundo é poder
Ele só me pede a fé
E a fé no mundo é poder
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Com pensamento em meu pai
Nada tenho que temer
Ele só me pede a fé
E a fé no mundo é poder
Ele só me pede a fé
E a fé no mundo é poder
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
Ele atirou a flecha
Com seu bodoque atirou
The lyrics of Trio Ternura's "A Gira" speak of a caboclo, who is a person of mixed indigenous and Afro-Brazilian heritage, who comes from the forest and visits his children on Earth. The caboclo is depicted as wise and powerful, possessing the ability to shoot arrows with his bodoque, a type of slingshot, to combat evil spirits and negativity. The repetition of "Ele atirou a flecha com seu bodoque atirou" reinforces this idea of strength and action.
The second verse emphasizes the caboclo's connection to nature as he visits a waterfall and brings "bem" (goodness) and "amor" (love) to his children. The third verse tells of the caboclo's use of the gira, a type of spiritual ceremony, to fight "mandiga," a Portuguese word for dark magic or spells. The caboclo is able to eliminate negativity and suffering from the world, lifting these negative influences to the heavens to be dispersed.
The final verses make reference to the singer's own relationship with the caboclo, stating that people need only have faith in him to have power in the world. The repetition of "ele só me pede a fé e a fé no mundo é poder" reinforces this message.
Overall, "A Gira" celebrates the wisdom, strength, and spiritual power of the caboclo.
Line by Line Meaning
Ele atirou a flecha
He shot an arrow
Com seu bodoque atirou
Using his slingshot to shoot it
Ele é caboclo e da mata
He is a native of the forest
Na cachoeira passou
He passed by the waterfall
Veio ver seus filhos na terra
He came to visit his children on earth
Trazendo o bem e o amor
Bringing goodness and love
Pra combater a mandiga
To fight against evil
Correu a gira girou
He ran around in circles during the spiritual ceremony
Os males de todo o mundo
The world's afflictions
Para o espaço levou
He took them away into space
Com pensamento em meu pai
With thoughts of my father
Nada tenho que temer
I am not afraid
Ele só me pede a fé
He only asks for my faith
E a fé no mundo é poder
And faith in the world is powerful
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Arturo7881
A Gira
Trio Ternura
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
He is caboclo and the forest
Ele é caboclo e da mata
In the waterfall passed
Na cachoeira passou
Came to see your children on earth
Veio ver seus filhos na terra
Bringing good and love
Trazendo o bem e o amor
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
To fight the mandiga
Pra combater a mandiga
Ran the whirl spun
Correu a gira girou
The evils of the whole world
Os males de todo o mundo
Into space led
Para o espaço levou
He shot the arrow
Ele atirou a flecha
With his tap shot
Com seu bodoque atirou
@josehelu9301
Eu nasci em 1976 e jamais soube da existência dessa musica e um dia eu passei num evento de rua e apareceu esse som"ele atirou a flecha...." e eu: "meu...que musica é essa?".Que coisa linda !
@leah919
I can’t believe I been living 38 years of my life without this song in it. This is heavenly. ♥️
@edsongoes171
vc deu sorte que eu passei dos 40...
@leah919
@Edson Goes I turned 40 in September. Cheers!
@wesleymendesdossantos4760
Brasil tem uma cultura muito rica🇧🇷🇧🇷🚬🐍
@ruigianolla1
Viva a Cultura Brasileira!
@davibilhalva
LINDO MEU DEUS ATÉ ME EMOCIONEI SALVE EU PAI OXOSSI TODO ARREPIADO
@miltoncampos6565
Nossa... faz quase 50 anos que eu não ouvia esta canção... já tinha até esquecido!!
@julies5085
Mesmerised by the man's voice. I recently heard it in a bar and can't get it off my mind, been searching what language, what song this is. Finally here!
@thaisvaz4838
is Portuguese! Brazilian music with African ancestry