
Gilberto Gil
Maracatu Atômico lyrics with English translation
- Language
- Portuguese
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1985
- Genre
- MPB, Tropicália
- Length
- 4:25
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Atrás do arranha-céu tem
Behind the skyscraper there's
O céu, tem o céu
The sky, there's the sky
E depois tem outro céu sem
And then there's another sky without
Estrelas
Stars
Em cima do guarda-chuva tem
On top of the umbrella there's
A chuva, tem a chuva
The rain, there's the rain
Que tem gotas tão lindas que
That has such beautiful drops that
Até dá vontade de
It even makes you want to
Comê-las
Eat them
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
No meio da couve-flor tem
In the middle of the cauliflower there's
A flor, tem a flor
The flower, there's the flower
Que além de ser uma flor tem
That besides being a flower has
Sabor
Flavor
Dentro do porta-luvas tem a luva
Inside the glove compartment is the glove
Tem a luva
There’s the glove
Que alguém de unhas negras
That someone with black nails
E tão afiadas
And so sharp
Esqueceu de por
Forgot to put
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Aaaaé
Aaaaé
Maracatu atômico
Atomic maracatu
Aaaaé
Aaaaé
Maracatu atômico
Atomic maracatu
No fundo do pára-raio tem
At the bottom of the lightning rod there is
O raio, tem o raio
The lightning, there is the lightning
Que caiu da nuvem negra do
That fell from the black cloud of the
Temporal
Storm
Todo quadro-negro é todo
Every blackboard is all
Negro é todo negro
Black is all black
Eu escrevo seu nome nele só
I write your name on it just
Pra demonstrar
To show
O meu apego
My attachment
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê ô
Manamaê êêê
Manamaê êêê
O bico do beijar flor, beija-flor
The beak of kissing a flower, hummingbird
Beijar flor
Kissing a flower
E toda fauna flora gata de amor
And all the fauna, flora, gorgeous love
Quem segura o porta estandarte
Who holds the banner aloft
Tem a arte, tem a arte
Has the art, has the art
E aqui passa com raça
And here it moves with spirit
Eletrônico o maracatu
Electronic the maracatu
Atômico
Atomic
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Manamaê ô
Manamaê oh
Key vocabulary
- manamaê
- name
- arranha-céu
- skyscraper
- depois
- afterwardA1
- guarda-chuva
- umbrella
- chuva
- rainA1
- tão
- so
- dá
- gives
- comê
- eat
- couve-flor
- cauliflower
- flor
- flowerA1
Test yourself
How much of Maracatu Atômico did you catch?
A quick quiz on the key words from this song.
About this song
Gilberto Gil was a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter associated with Tropicália and other innovative trends in Brazilian music. He is known for expanding Brazilian musical language through late-1960s and 1970s recordings and for combining an active political career, including serving as Brazil’s minister of culture, with ongoing work as a recording artist.