A Rita

Chico Buarque's song 'A Rita' is a poignant portrayal of heartbreak and loss. The lyrics tell the story of a person whose lover, Rita, has left, taking not only tangible items but also the narrator's joy and essence. The opening lines, where Rita is said to have taken the narrator's smile with her own, suggest a deep emotional connection that has been severed. The smile, a symbol of happiness, is now in her possession, indicating that the narrator's ability to feel joy is tied to her presence.

The song continues to describe the extent of what Rita has taken, which includes personal and sentimental items. The mention of 'seu retrato, seu trapo, seu prato' (her picture, her rag, her plate) and cultural references like 'uma imagem de São Francisco e um bom disco de Noel' (an image of Saint Francis and a good record by Noel) highlight the depth of their shared history and the void left by her departure. The loss is not just emotional but also cultural and spiritual, affecting the narrator's identity and memories.

The final verses of the song emphasize the totality of the loss. Rita's departure is described as a death of their love, and she leaves nothing behind, not even a penny. The narrator feels robbed of his plans, his naive mistakes, his youth, and his heart. The song concludes with the narrator being left speechless and with only a guitar, a common metaphor for the artist's means of expressing emotion and telling stories. The guitar's presence suggests that while Rita has taken everything else, the narrator's ability to create music and find solace in art remains.