Morena
Vó Tereza Lyrics

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O trem passou às seis
Você me diz, pra onde vou
Sem medo de dar cara a tapa feito vira-lata
Com sede aspiro forte ao pódio de chegada
Sem medo de dar cara a tapa feito vira-lata
Com sede aspiro forte ao pódio de chegada

Da janela assisto ao acenar

Bonita
Sem medo de dar cara a tapa feito vira-lata
Com sede de dar murro em ponta de faca
Sem medo de dar cara a tapa feito vira-lata
Com sede aspiro forte ao pódio de chegada

Menina, morena menina
Brasileira, índia
Da prainha do cordel, do castanho mel
E eu de canto repensando o canto dela

Mulher, morena mulher
Brasileira, índia

Da prainha do cordel, do castanho mel
E eu de canto repensando o canto dela

Overall Meaning

The verses of "Morena" by Vó Tereza describe a restless spirit who eagerly chases after her goals, regardless of the obstacles that might stand in her way. The first verse sets the scene with the passing of a train at six o'clock, as the singer asks "where do I go from here?" without fear of facing challenges head-on, inspired to reach the finish line with determination. The chorus refers to the woman the singer is watching from a window, a beautiful and fierce individual not afraid to take risks and put up a fight. Tereza admires this person for their perseverance, even if it means suffering setbacks and mistakes: "without fear of giving a face to the punch like a stray dog, with thirst I aspire strongly to the podium of arrival".

The second verse reaffirms the singer's admiration for this figure, repeating the epithets "beautiful" and "without fear of giving a face to the punch like a stray dog". The singer, while observing from the sidelines, shares in the struggle and desire for a better life, even if there are no guarantees of success: "with thirst for hitting the point of the knife". The final lines of the song repeat the chorus, addressed to the "girl, brown girl," and "woman, brown woman," from the "prainha do cordel" and the "castanho mel". The location mentioned is likely situated in northeastern Brazil, where local culture and traditions deeply influence the country's identity. The singer is reminded of the girl's voice and song, as well as her resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

O trem passou às seis
The train passed at six o'clock

Você me diz, pra onde vou
You ask me where I'm going

Sem medo de dar cara a tapa feito vira-lata
Without fear of getting hit like a stray dog

Com sede aspiro forte ao pódio de chegada
Thirstily, I aspire to reach the finish line

Da janela assisto ao acenar
From the window, I watch the wave

Bonita
Beautiful

Com sede de dar murro em ponta de faca
Thirsty to fight an impossible battle

Menina, morena menina
Girl, brown girl

Brasileira, índia
Brazilian, indigenous

Da prainha do cordel, do castanho mel
From the little beach of the cord, of the honey brown

E eu de canto repensando o canto dela
And I, in a corner, rethinking her song