Maria Moita

Carlos Lyra's song 'Maria Moita' delves into the historical and social struggles faced by women, particularly those of African descent in Brazil. The lyrics begin by painting a vivid picture of the singer's origins, born in Bahia to a mother who was a servant and a father who was a master. This stark contrast in their living conditions—his father sleeping in a bed while his mother slept on the floor—highlights the deep-rooted inequalities and the harsh realities of servitude and exploitation.

The song further explores the societal expectations placed on women, emphasizing their subservient roles. The line 'Mulher que fala muito perde logo seu amor' (A woman who talks too much soon loses her love) reflects the cultural norm that women should be seen and not heard, reinforcing their secondary status. The lyrics also touch on the biblical notion that women were created after men, suggesting that this is why women are burdened with the responsibility of working for both themselves and their male counterparts. This is poignantly illustrated in the lines describing the man coming home hungry and the woman having to take care of him, regardless of her own exhaustion.

In the latter part of the song, Lyra calls for divine intervention to address social injustices. He mentions asking his Babalorixá (a priest in Afro-Brazilian religions) to pray to Xangô, the orisha of justice, to make those who have never worked start working. This plea underscores the frustration with social inequality and the desire for a more just and equitable society. The repetition of the phrase 'Pra pôr pra trabalhar gente que nunca trabalhou' (To make people who never worked start working) serves as a powerful mantra, emphasizing the need for change and the redistribution of labor and responsibility.