Levantados do Chão

Chico Buarque's song 'Levantados do Chão' delves into the profound disconnection and disorientation experienced by those uprooted from their land. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of individuals who have been separated from their earthly roots, grappling with the surreal and unsettling reality of their displacement. The recurring question, 'Como então? Desgarrados da terra?' ('How then? Torn from the earth?'), underscores the bewilderment and loss of identity that comes with being forcibly removed from one's homeland. This theme resonates deeply in the context of Brazil's history of land struggles and the plight of rural workers who have been displaced by industrialization and urbanization.

The imagery in the song is rich with metaphors that evoke a sense of instability and surrealism. Phrases like 'Como em sonho correr numa estrada? Deslizando no mesmo lugar?' ('Like in a dream running on a road? Sliding in the same place?') and 'Num balanço de rede sem rede' ('In a hammock swing without a hammock') highlight the paradoxical and dreamlike state of being uprooted. These metaphors suggest a disorienting experience where the familiar becomes strange, and the ground beneath one's feet is no longer solid. The song's ethereal quality is further emphasized by the depiction of 'levitante colono' ('levitating colonist') and 'boi alado' ('winged ox'), blending the mundane with the fantastical to illustrate the surreal nature of displacement.

Buarque's lyrics also explore the absurdity and confusion of trying to cultivate a new life in an unfamiliar and inhospitable environment. The lines 'Que esquisita lavoura! Mas como? Um arado no espaço? Será?' ('What a strange crop! But how? A plow in space? Could it be?') reflect the challenges and uncertainties faced by those attempting to rebuild their lives after being uprooted. The song questions the possibility of growth and sustenance in such a disjointed reality, using the metaphor of an 'arado no espaço' ('plow in space') to convey the futility and surrealism of their efforts. Through 'Levantados do Chão,' Chico Buarque poignantly captures the emotional and existential turmoil of displacement, blending poetic imagery with social commentary to create a powerful and evocative narrative.