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.

If I Fell
Zé Ramalho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I fell in love with you
Would you promise to be true
And help me understand
'Cause I've been in love before
And I found that love was more
Than just holding hands

If I give my heart to you

I must be sure
From the very start
That you would love me more than her

If I trust in you oh please
Don't run and hide
If I love you too oh please
Don't hurt my pride like her

'Cause I couldn't stand the pain
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I
Would love to love you
And that she will cry
When she learns we are two
'Cause I couldn't stand the pain
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I
Would love to love you
And that she will cry

When she learns we are two
If I fell in love with you

Overall Meaning

Zé Ramalho's song "If I Fell" is a rendition of the classic Beatles' song with the same title. In this song, the singer is asking a potential lover if they would be trustworthy and true if they were to fall in love with them. The singer acknowledges being in love before and understands that it takes more than holding hands to make a relationship work. They ask that the potential lover loves them more than their previous partner.

The singer then emphasizes the importance of trust in a relationship and pleads with the potential love interest not to hurt them as their previous partner did. The singer admits that they cannot stand the pain from a failed relationship, and they would be saddened if their new love were in vain. The song ends with the singer hoping that the potential love interest sees that they want to love them and that their previous partner will cry when they learn about their new love.

Interestingly, while the original Beatles' version is sung from the point of view of someone who has already fallen in love but is questioning their own feelings, Zé Ramalho's version is one of hope and optimism, with the singer requesting a chance to love without reservation. This juxtaposition shows how different cultural contexts can influence interpretations of art, even when the same lyrics are used.

Line by Line Meaning

If I fell in love with you
If I were to fall in love with you

Would you promise to be true
Would you make a commitment to be loyal

And help me understand
And would you assist me in comprehending

'Cause I've been in love before
Since I've had experience with being in love before

And I found that love was more
And I discovered that love involves more

Than just holding hands
Than simply physical touch

If I give my heart to you
If I entrust my emotions to you

I must be sure
I must be certain

From the very start
From the outset

That you would love me more than her
That your love for me would surpass your love for anyone else, including her

If I trust in you oh please
If I confide in you, oh please