Zé Ramalho (born José Ramalho Neto in Brejo do Cruz, Paraíba, Brazil, Octob… Read Full Bio ↴Zé Ramalho (born José Ramalho Neto in Brejo do Cruz, Paraíba, Brazil, October 03, 1949) is a Brazilian singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Zé Ramalho is also the first cousin of Elba Ramalho, a well known Brazilian singer and performer.

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.

Fissura
Zé Ramalho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Por que é que foi que você não viu
Uma fissura na relação
Numa distância tão passageira
Voando livre na solidão

O que é que foi que você sentiu
Quando o silêncio lhe penetrou
Uma estranha e derradeira

Felicidade lhe abalou

Vocie pensou que era imenso
Na fortaleza dos antigos
E vai levar dentro dos olhos
A multidão dos seus amigos

E vai deixar numa estrela
A sua imagem e semelhança

A fera mansa que se deitou
Com o silêncio da cidade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Zé Ramalho's song "Fissura" explore the fissure, or the crack, in a relationship that ultimately leads to the individuals being alone despite being in such close proximity. The singer questions why his partner didn't see the signs of this crack, present in the loneliness and distance between them. This led to the singer feeling an unfamiliar happiness, despite the sadness of their estrangement.

The singer also reflects on how they believed their relationship was impenetrable, like a fortress of old. However, they will only carry memories of their friends with them, like a constellation in the stars. The song ends with the imagery of a tame beast lying down with the silence of the city, highlighting the feeling of melancholy that pervades the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Por que é que foi que você não viu
Why didn't you see

Uma fissura na relação
A crack in the relationship

Numa distância tão passageira
In such a fleeting distance

Voando livre na solidão
Flying free in solitude

O que é que foi que você sentiu
What did you feel

Quando o silêncio lhe penetrou
When silence penetrated you

Uma estranha e derradeira
A strange and final

Felicidade lhe abalou
Happiness shook you

Você pensou que era imenso
You thought it was immense

Na fortaleza dos antigos
In the fortress of the ancients

E vai levar dentro dos olhos
And will carry inside your eyes