As with many musicians back in his younger days, he was first influenced by rock and roll; however, at the age of 20, his music took a more Northeastern Brazilian approach (forro, folk). Zé Ramalho's lyrics however, are very influenced by the socio-economic difficulties faced by the average Brazilian.
In 1975, he recorded his first album, Paêbirú along with Lula Côrtes through the label Rozenblit. Today the copies from this very rare vinyl are highly-priced in the international collector's market.
A Noite Preta
Zé Ramalho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E arremessa contra a massa da parede
A ventania, canto, faca, tudo corta
A sombra torta estranha como a rede
Cabeça cheia como um saco de confetes
Pende dos ombros com serpentes e cabelos
E essa louca cobra, loura reluzente
E refletidas no cubículo calado
Pulsam dilatam-se cadeiras que se movem
Brilham os ratos e bordados nos sapatos
Brilham insetos alimentando sapos
The lyrics of Zé Ramalho's song "A Noite Preta" describe a chaotic and restless night. The year is described as "a noite preta," or a black night, which crashes against the wall like a gust of wind. The imagery evokes a sense of violence and destruction, with everything being cut by "facas" or knives. The "sombra torta," or crooked shadow, is described as being strange like a spider's web.
The second stanza describes a woman with a head full of confetti, with snakes and hair hanging from her shoulders. The image of the snake is continued with the description of a crazy cobra, shining like gold, wrapping itself around the elbow. The last stanza describes a quiet cubicle where chairs pulsate and move, and where rats and insects feed the frogs.
Overall, the song creates a vivid and unsettling atmosphere that captures the chaotic energy of a restless night.
Line by Line Meaning
E nesse ano a noite preta pega a porta
In this year, the black night grabs the door
E arremessa contra a massa da parede
And throws it against the wall
A ventania, canto, faca, tudo corta
The wind, the song, the knife, everything cuts
A sombra torta estranha como a rede
The crooked shadow strange as the net
Cabeça cheia como um saco de confetes
Head full like a bag of confetti
Pende dos ombros com serpentes e cabelos
Dangling from the shoulders with snakes and hair
E essa louca cobra, loura reluzente
And this crazy snake, shining blonde
Se enrosca no tronco do cotovelo
Coils around the elbow trunk
E refletidas no cubículo calado
And reflected in the silent cubicle
Pulsam dilatam-se cadeiras que se movem
Chairs throb and expand, moving
Brilham os ratos e bordados nos sapatos
Rats shine and embroideries on shoes
Brilham insetos alimentando sapos
Insects shine feeding toads
Contributed by Samuel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Silvana Vighini
Isso que é um rock nordestino ❤️
Pedro Brito
Oi
Paulo Oliva
Raul já citava Luiz Gonzaga, batida 4 x 4 era puro ROCK!
nickfurycia
@Paulo Oliva - Que Raul Seixas foi o criador do baioque (a mistura do baião e rock) não se tem como negar, porém ele não se prendeu a esse ritmo que ele mesmo criou, os únicos artistas que realmente se prenderam ao baioque foram Lula Côrtes, Alceu Valença e o Zé Ramalho.
Paulo Oliva
@nickfurycia Sim, a própria obra do Raul mostra isso, pois eram vários estilos musicais durante a carreira.
Abs.
JOSE CARLOS AUGUSTO
Esse cara é GENIAL !!!
Vaneide Dias
Amooooo
GeysianeGomes1
Essa tem a msm sonoridade do disco "20 Palavras ao redor do Sol" de Cátia de França. Se não estou equivocada, nessa fase ela chegou a tocar com ele...
Maria
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Maurício Almeida Alcides
muito bom