Key Terms in the Song
Before diving into the lyrics, it helps to understand the physical components of the berimbau mentioned throughout the song:
Cabaça: The dried, hollowed-out gourd attached to the bottom of the bow that acts as a sound resonator, amplifying the instrument's pitch and tone.
Arame: The high-tension steel wire stripped from old car tires that runs up the length of the wooden bow to produce the instrument's sound when struck.
Pedaço de pau: The flexible wooden stick (traditionally made from biriba wood) that forms the structural body and tension of the bow.
There is one main chorus to this song:
A cabaça, o arame e um pedaço de pau
This translates to the following:
The gourd, the wire, and a piece of wood
| Letras | Lyrics |
|---|---|
| O que é o berimbau? | What is the berimbau? |
| (Coro) | (Chorus) |
| Olha como é gostoso tocar berimbau | Look how delightful it is to play the berimbau |
| A cabaça, o arame e um pedaço de pau | The gourd, the wire, and a piece of wood |
| O que é o berimbau? | What is the berimbau? |
| (Coro) | (Chorus) |
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