Menino das Laranjas is a Brazilian song written by Théo de Barros. It tells the story of a poor boy who must sell oranges at the market to help support his single mother, with the mother arranging another basket when the crate returns empty and the boy facing hardship. The tune was first released in 1964 by Geraldo Vandré. Elis Regina recorded a lively version in 1965 for her album Samba Eu Canto Assim, helping popularize the song, while Théo de Barros later issued his own swinging take on the tune on his album Primeiro Disco, around 1980, with a different arrangement and lyrics. The song sits in the Brazilian popular music spectrum, combining MPB and samba influences to turn a sobering social story into memorable music.
