Trem das Onze

"Trem das Onze" () is a famous classical samba composition by Brazilian singer Adoniran Barbosa (1912-1982), released in 1964 and made famous that same year by the samba group Demônios da Garoa. It is widely considered one of the best Brazilian popular songs ever.

With a delightful rhythm and melody, very easy to learn (thus an all-time favorite of Brazilians), Barbosa portrays in funny lyrics the drama of a lover who lives in a distant and poor suburb of São Paulo called Jaçanã, and who cannot stay longer with his beloved because the last train will be departing soon and his mother cannot sleep until he gets home.

The song is a good example of both the classic "paulista" samba (a special style, composed in São Paulo) and the use of a composition structure known as "samba de breque" (break), where the melodic flow stops suddenly, very much like opening parentheses.

Lyrics

<table cellspacing=7><tr valign=top><td>Original

Não posso ficar<br>Nem mais um minuto com você<br>Sinto muito, amor<br>Mas não pode ser

Moro em Jaçanã<br>Se eu perder esse trem<br>Que sai agora, às 11 horas<br>Só amanhã de manhã

E além disso mulher<br>Tem outra coisa<br>Minha mãe não dorme<br>Enquanto eu não chegar<br>Sou filho único<br>Tenho minha casa p'ra olhar</td><td>Translation

I can't stay<br>Not even another minute with you<br>I am sorry,...
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