Sonhos Sonhos São

Chico Buarque's 'Sonhos Sonhos São' is a poetic exploration of the surreal and often disorienting nature of dreams. The song's lyrics take the listener on a journey through a series of vivid and fragmented dreamscapes, each filled with symbolic imagery and emotional undertones. The opening lines set the stage with 'negras nuvens' (black clouds) and a sense of turbulence, both literal and metaphorical, as the narrator navigates through a dream that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.

The song delves into themes of longing and unfulfilled desire, as seen in the lines where the narrator touches the heart of a loved one, only to find that their palm has no lines, symbolizing an uncertain or nonexistent future together. This sense of yearning is further emphasized as the narrator finds themselves in various global locations—Cairo, Lima, Calcutta—each representing different facets of their subconscious mind. The recurring motif of being in a foreign land and speaking an unfamiliar language underscores the feeling of being lost and disconnected.

As the dream progresses, the narrator encounters various figures, from nervous flight attendants to pale economists, each adding to the surreal and chaotic atmosphere. The song culminates in a poignant realization that the dream is, in fact, a reflection of the narrator's inner turmoil and unrequited love. The final lines reveal a deep sense of resignation, acknowledging that the person they long for has never truly been theirs. This emotional climax ties together the disparate elements of the dream, leaving the listener with a haunting sense of melancholy and introspection.