O Que Será (À Flor da Pele)

Caetano Veloso's song 'O Que Será (À Flor da Pele)' delves deep into the human experience of overwhelming emotions and desires that defy rational explanation. The lyrics are a poetic exploration of an intense, almost uncontrollable feeling that takes over the body and mind. Veloso uses vivid imagery to describe this sensation, likening it to something that 'brota à flor da pele' (sprouts to the surface of the skin) and 'me sobe às faces e me faz corar' (rises to my face and makes me blush). This suggests a powerful, visceral emotion that cannot be hidden or suppressed.

The song continues to explore the nature of this feeling, describing it as something that 'me aperta o peito e me faz confessar' (squeezes my chest and makes me confess) and 'me faz mendigo, me faz suplicar' (makes me a beggar, makes me plead). These lines convey a sense of vulnerability and helplessness, as if the emotion is so strong that it forces the individual to confront and express it, regardless of their will. The repetition of 'O que não tem medida, nem nunca terá' (What has no measure, and never will) emphasizes the boundless and uncontrollable nature of this feeling.

Veloso also touches on the idea that this emotion is something that 'não devia' (shouldn't be) and 'desacata a gente' (disrespects us), suggesting a conflict between societal norms and personal desires. The comparison to 'uma aguardente que não sacia' (a liquor that doesn't satisfy) and 'estar doente de uma folia' (being sick from a festivity) further illustrates the paradoxical nature of this feeling—intensely pleasurable yet ultimately unfulfilling. The song concludes with a sense of inevitability, acknowledging that this emotion 'não tem vergonha, nem nunca terá' (has no shame, and never will) and 'não tem juízo' (has no judgment), highlighting its raw, ungovernable essence.