Funeral de Um Lavrador

Chico Buarque's 'Funeral de Um Lavrador' (Funeral of a Peasant) is a poignant song that delves into the themes of social inequality and land distribution in Brazil. The lyrics are a somber reflection on the life and death of a peasant, whose final resting place is ironically the only piece of land he ever 'owned'. The song's narrative is a powerful commentary on the plight of the rural poor and the injustices they face.

The opening lines, which speak of the grave's size being the 'smallest account' taken in life, suggest that the peasant's existence was measured by the minimal land he worked on, yet never possessed. The repeated phrase 'É a parte que te cabe deste latifúndio' (It is the part that belongs to you of this large estate) is laced with irony, as the 'part' that belongs to the peasant is a grave, not a piece of the vast land he toiled on. The song highlights the stark contrast between the vastness of the latifundia (large landed estates) and the meager portion allotted to the peasant in death.

The lyrics also touch upon the idea of freedom in death, as the peasant will 'feel broader' than he did in life, free from the constraints and suffering endured. This is a grim reflection on the reality that, for many impoverished individuals, death may seem like the only escape from a life of hardship. Chico Buarque's song is not just a lament but a call to consciousness about the deep-rooted issues of land inequality and the exploitation of the working class.