Se Amar é Viver

Barros de Alencar's song "Se Amar é Viver" is a poignant exploration of unspoken love and the passage of time. The repetitive chorus, "Se amar é viver, eu vivo porque amo você" (If loving is living, I live because I love you), underscores the central theme of the song: the narrator's life is defined by his love for someone he has never confessed his feelings to. This refrain serves as a mantra, emphasizing the depth and constancy of his emotions.

The verses delve into the narrator's memories, taking us back to his school days when he first fell in love. He recalls the girl's physical appearance and his shy attempts to express his feelings through anonymous love notes. This nostalgic reflection highlights the innocence and intensity of young love, as well as the narrator's enduring admiration. The imagery of school uniforms and secret notes evokes a sense of timelessness, suggesting that these feelings have remained unchanged over the years.

The narrative takes a bittersweet turn when the narrator encounters his love interest years later. He musters the courage to finally confess his feelings, only to discover that she has moved on with her life, now a mother. This revelation brings a crushing sense of missed opportunity and regret. The narrator's decision to walk away without revealing his love, while singing the song's refrain, encapsulates the enduring pain of unspoken love and the realization that some moments can never be recaptured. The song beautifully captures the universal experience of longing and the heartache of what might have been.