Here’s a Brazilian folk song about the Carnival called Mama Paquita. James sent this song in English…

Mama Paquita

Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita, buy your baby a papaya
A ripe papaya and a banana,
A ripe papaya that your baby will enjoy, ma-ma-ma-ma,
Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita says, “I haven’t any money
To buy papayas and ripe bananas,
Let’s go to Carnival and dance the night away!”

Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita, buy your baby some pajamas,
A new pajamas, and a sombrero,
A new sombrero that your baby will enjoy, ma-ma-ma-ma,
Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita says, “I haven’t any money
To buy pajamas, and a sombrero,
Let’s go to Carnival and dance the night away!”

Many thanks to James for sending Mama Paquita!

If anyone knows the original version of this song, any other versions of it, or if you can send a recording or a midi, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Brazil Page for Brazilian Children’s Songs and Rhymes.