O Casamento Dos Pequenos Burgueses

Chico Buarque's song "O Casamento Dos Pequenos Burgueses" paints a vivid and somewhat cynical picture of a typical bourgeois marriage. The lyrics delve into the monotonous and often disillusioning aspects of married life, highlighting the repetitive and predictable nature of the couple's existence. The song's structure, with its repetitive phrases and cyclical nature, mirrors the routine and often unfulfilling life of the couple it describes.

The song begins by describing the couple's roles: the husband as the 'correct' groom and the wife who almost faints, a nod to traditional gender roles and expectations. They live under the same roof, but the phrase "até que a casa caia" (until the house falls) suggests an underlying instability. This instability is a recurring theme, with each verse ending in a similar foreboding phrase, indicating that their seemingly stable life is always on the brink of collapse.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the couple's life is filled with unspoken tensions and unfulfilled desires. The husband is described as having a secret affair, while the wife remains dutiful but dreams of escape. The lyrics also touch on the couple's aging and the physical and emotional toll it takes on them. Despite their efforts to maintain appearances, their life together is marked by a sense of inevitability and resignation, culminating in the final line, "até que a morte os una" (until death unites them).

Buarque's portrayal of the bourgeois marriage is both critical and empathetic, capturing the complexities and contradictions of a life bound by societal expectations. The song serves as a poignant commentary on the sacrifices and compromises that often underpin long-term relationships, particularly within the context of traditional middle-class values.