Can Someone Help with a Song Called “Sambalale”?
Ellen wrote:
I’m looking for the origin of a song entitled “Sambalale.” It’s about a boy who is a show off and is trying to get a mango out of a tree. Raffi credits it to Brazil but I can’t find anything on this. It’s one of my preschool favorites.
E. Harold-Stein
If anyone can help with the origin of “Sambalale”, and/or the original lyrics and/or an English translation, please comment below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Here’s a YouTube video I found with the name “Sambalelê na Kalimba”. They call it a Brazilian Folk Song (perhaps this is the same song?). Either way it’s great!
UPDATE: You can find the correct Samba Lele lyrics with an MP3 Recording, midi tune score and English, French and Spanish translations on Mama Lisa’s World! It is a Brazilian Folk Song in Portuguese.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
My husband found a recording to hear the English version of this song. (Click the link.)
September 28th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Ellen, who originally asked about this song, wrote:
That’s IT! A little different melody than Raffi’s version, but at least I have the full name: Sambalele na Kalimba. Now, to find out the original lyrics! Thanks a million.
Ellen
September 29th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Here are the original lyrics
Samba Lelê está doente
Está com a cabeça quebrada
Samba Lelê precisava
De umas dezoito lambadas
Samba , samba,
Samba ô Lelê
Pisa na barra da saia ô Lalá (BIS)
Ó Morena bonita,
Como é que se namora ?
Põe o lencinho no bolso
Deixa a pontinha de fora
Ó Morena bonita
Como é que se casa
Põe o véu na cabeça
Depois dá o fora de casa
Ó Morena bonita
Como é que cozinha
Bota a panela no fogo
Vai conversar com a vizinha
Ó Morena bonita
Onde é que você mora
Moro na Praia Formosa
Digo adeus e vou embora
You can hear a sample here
September 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am
You can see the English lyrics here. They are quite different from the original Brazilian ones.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
If someone could provide an English translation to the original lyrics, that would be great!
-Lisa
September 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Well guys, this is what I came to:
Samba Lelê is sick
He broke his head
Samba Lelê needed/deserved
Eighteen whackings.
Dance the samba, dance the samba
Samba ô Lelê
Step on the hem/rim of the skirt ô Lalá
O pretty brunette
How does one get a boyfriend?
Put your handkerchief in your pocket
Let the top/corner show out.
O pretty brunette
How does one get married?
Put the veil on your head
And then get away from home
O pretty brunette
How does one cook?
Put the pan on the fire
Go and chat with your neighbor
O pretty brunette
Where do you live?
I live in Formosa Beach,
I say goodbye and go away.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
We posted Samba Lelê with an English translation, midi and score. (Click the link to see the page and also to access our French and Spanish translations of the song).
If anyone would like to sing it for us, we’d be happy to post a recording!
-Mama Lisa
May 18th, 2009 at 11:23 am
what does “ô Lalá” mean?
Is that like saying “oo la-la” in French?
Or “oh, my” in English?
May 31st, 2009 at 10:53 am
Raffi made Sambalele popular in the US. His lyrics are very different. You can find Raffi’s Samba lele lyrics by clicking the link (hopefully it’ll stay online).