Peão

Almir Sater's song 'Peão' is a poignant reflection on the transformation of the Brazilian countryside and the fading lifestyle of the traditional cowboy, or 'boiadeiro.' The lyrics open with a nostalgic tone, as the narrator reminisces about his past as a cowboy, traversing the vast, open trails of the 'sertão'—a term for the hinterlands of Brazil. This landscape, once wild and untamed, has now been overtaken by 'civilização' or civilization, symbolizing the encroachment of modernity and the loss of a simpler, more connected way of life.

The song vividly describes the physical and emotional journey of the cowboy. The imagery of 'ventos que arrombam janelas' (winds that break windows) and 'espora de prata riscando as fronteiras' (silver spurs marking the borders) evokes a sense of relentless change and the erosion of traditional boundaries. The cowboy's life, once defined by the rhythm of nature and the open road, is now constrained by the march of progress, as even the cattle are transported by trucks rather than driven across the land. This shift is underscored by the melancholic realization that 'não tem mais sertão' (there is no more hinterland).

Sater also touches on the deeper, existential aspects of the cowboy's journey. The song speaks to the enduring spirit of the 'peão,' who finds meaning in the journey itself rather than the destination. The lines 'prum bom viajante, nada é distante' (for a good traveler, nothing is distant) and 'existe uma vida, uma vida vivida, sentida e sofrida' (there is a life, a life lived, felt, and suffered) highlight the resilience and philosophical outlook of those who live this way of life. Despite the changes and hardships, the cowboy's identity and connection to the land remain integral to his sense of self, encapsulating the essence of what it means to be Brazilian in this context.