No Rancho Fundo

Ary Barroso's song 'No Rancho Fundo' paints a vivid picture of a remote and desolate place, far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. The lyrics describe a 'rancho fundo,' or deep ranch, situated 'well beyond the end of the world,' where sorrow and longing are the primary emotions. This setting serves as a backdrop for the story of a 'moreno,' a dark-skinned man, who sings his sorrows with eyes full of tears. The imagery of the man waiting for the moon with only a cigarette for company underscores his profound loneliness and despair.

The song delves into the moreno's deep sense of loss and nostalgia. Once a vibrant singer of spring, he is now reduced to a shadow of his former self, living in a simple thatched house. The natural world around him mirrors his inner turmoil; trees no longer share their secrets, the last palm tree has died, and even the birds have retreated into their nests. This pervasive sadness has darkened the entire landscape, emphasizing the depth of the moreno's emotional pain.

Barroso's lyrics suggest that the moreno's misery stems from his experiences with city women, whose 'venom' has left him heartbroken and yearning for a love that seems out of reach. The song's plea to God to send all the love on earth to this sorrowful place highlights the moreno's desperate need for solace. The final lines evoke a poignant contrast between the beauty of a blossoming flower and the harshness of the sun, symbolizing the moreno's memories of a lost love that once brought warmth and joy to his life. 'No Rancho Fundo' is a haunting exploration of love, loss, and the enduring impact of heartache on both the individual and the natural world around them.