Wanderley started playing the piano at age 5, taking a year of theory at 12, and well before he was out of his teens, he moved to São Paulo and got a recording contract. Juxtaposing American hits and Afro-Cuban dance music, he built a following in Brazil during the 1950s, and by the early-'60s, he was immersed in the emerging bossa nova field, recording with Joao Gilberto in 1961 and on his own. Encouraged by Tony Bennett, among others, Wanderley finally took off for New York in 1966, where Creed Taylor recorded him for Verve. His first album, Rain Forest, yielded a smooth-sailing Top 30 hit single, "Summer Samba," peaking at No. 26 and proving that bossa nova was far from a spent force in 1966. Settling in Los Angeles, Wanderley went on to make four more albums for Verve and two for A&M, and other material was issued on World Pacific, Philips, Tower and Canyon. He continued to work at a lower profile after bossa nova went into eclipse in the '70s - and by the time of his death from cancer in 1986, he was virtually a forgotten man. But when the lounge movement discovered him, the values of his out-of-print albums suddenly skyrocketed.
BORN: May 12, 1932 (Recife, Brazil)
DIED: September 4, 1986 (San Francisco, CA)
LIVED IN: the San Francisco area after coming to the U.S.
Bahia
Walter Wanderley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Não?
Então vá!
Quem vai ao "Bonfim", minha nêga,
Nunca mais quer voltar.
Muita sorte teve,
Muita sorte tem,
Muita sorte terá
Não?
Então vá!
Lá tem vatapá
Então vá!
Lá tem caruru,
Então vá!
Lá tem munguzá,
Então vá!
Se "quiser sambar"
Então vá!
Nas sacadas dos sobrados
Da velha São Salvador
Há lembranças de donzelas,
Do tempo do Imperador.
Tudo, tudo na Bahia
Faz a gente querer bem
A Bahia tem um jeito,
******************************
You already it was to the Bahia, nêga? Not? Then it goes! Who goes to the "Bonfim", mine nêga, Never more wants to come back. Much luck had, Much luck has, Much luck will have You already was to the Bahia, nêga? Not? Then it goes! There it has vatapá Then goes! There it has caruru, Then it goes! There it has munguzá, Then it goes! If "to want to sambar" Then goes! In the drawn ones of the sobrados ones Of the old one They are Salvador Has souvenirs of maidens, Of the time of the Emperor. Everything, everything in the Bahia Makes people to want the Bahia well has a skill,
The lyrics of Walter Wanderley's song "Você Já Foi à Bahia" depict the vibrant and alluring atmosphere of the Brazilian state of Bahia. The refrain introduces the question "Você já foi à Bahia, nêga?" which translates to "Have you been to Bahia, baby?" The song encourages the listener to visit Bahia, as it promises unforgettable experiences and an irresistible charm.
The lyrics mention the "Bonfim," which is a famous church in Bahia known for its religious and cultural significance. Visiting this church is said to bring good fortune, and once someone has been there, they never want to leave. The refrain repeats the phrase "muita sorte teve, muita sorte tem, muita sorte terá," which means "Had a lot of luck, has a lot of luck, will have a lot of luck." This reinforces the notion that the Bahia experience is one filled with positive and fortunate moments.
The subsequent verses highlight some of Bahia's traditional culinary delights, such as "vatapá" (a dish made of shrimp, bread, and coconut milk), "caruru" (a spicy okra stew), and "munguzá" (a sweet corn pudding). The lyrics also mention the opportunity to dance samba, a popular Brazilian dance genre, in Bahia.
Furthermore, the song references the historical city of Salvador, the capital of Bahia. The "sobrados," which are large houses with balconies, evoke a sense of nostalgia and reminisce about the time of the Brazilian Empire. The lyrics allude to the presence of memories and traditions linked to the imperial era, adding to the cultural richness and historical depth of Bahia.
In summary, Walter Wanderley's "Você Já Foi à Bahia" celebrates the allure of Bahia, enticing listeners to visit and experience the state's vibrant culture, culinary delights, and rich history.
Line by Line Meaning
Você já foi à Bahia, nêga?
Have you ever been to Bahia, my dear?
Não?
No?
Então vá!
Then go!
Quem vai ao 'Bonfim', minha nêga,
Whoever goes to 'Bonfim', my dear,
Nunca mais quer voltar.
Never wants to come back.
Muita sorte teve,
You were very lucky,
Muita sorte tem,
You are very lucky,
Muita sorte terá
You will be very lucky
Você já foi à Bahia, nêga?
Have you ever been to Bahia, my dear?
Não?
No?
Então vá!
Then go!
Lá tem vatapá
There is vatapá there
Então vá!
Then go!
Lá tem caruru,
There is caruru there
Então vá!
Then go!
Lá tem munguzá,
There is munguzá there
Então vá!
Then go!
Se 'quiser sambar'
If you want to samba
Então vá!
Then go!
Nas sacadas dos sobrados
On the balconies of the town houses
Da velha São Salvador
Of old São Salvador
Há lembranças de donzelas,
There are memories of maidens,
Do tempo do Imperador.
From the time of the Emperor.
Tudo, tudo na Bahia
Everything, everything in Bahia
Faz a gente querer bem
Makes people want it
A Bahia tem um jeito,
Bahia has a way,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DORIVAL SEN CAYMMI, NORMAN FERGUSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruben Hernandez
Hermosa melodía...solo hacía falta que la tocara Walter, para sonar en un nivel superior, donde el alma se deleita...
rafael murillo
yo tengo el disco. placer auditivo placer de placeres. genio. y pensar qye vino a dar conciertos en mexico
roy centinella
Traducción: "nombre equivocado pero la canción es bienvenida. El nombre correcto es "Na Baixa do Sapateiro". Además, (si el nombre) fuera el del estado, sería Bahia con h. (De cualquier modo) valió!" Y agregaría un rotundo GRACIAS!!!
david sanders
I know this song by both names, baia and also Baixa de sapateiro. I want the lyrics of this song.
Erich Ariel
Como pudieron haber inventado música tan hermosa ¿Quién es el compositor de este tema?
david sanders
This song was written by ARI BARROSO, most prolific Brazilian composer.
david sanders
Brazilian music is the best.
guariba63
"Na baixa do sapateiro" de Ary Barroso. (Baixa do Sapateiro é um bairro da cidade de Salvador, capital do Estado da Bahia).
Ernesto Lopez Armenta
El señor de la musica y de los teclados Walter Wanderley.
Luiz Alberto Manoel Silva
Ary Barroso "Na baixa do Sapatereiro" é um lugar na Bahia