Meia-noite

Chico Buarque's song 'Meia-noite' delves into themes of existential despair and the loss of direction, using the metaphor of a sailor lost at sea to explore these profound emotions. The opening lines, 'Se a noite não tem fundo / O mar perde o valor,' set a somber tone, suggesting that when the night seems endless, even the vast ocean loses its significance. This imagery evokes a sense of hopelessness and disorientation, as if the protagonist is adrift in a boundless, dark void.

The lyrics continue to paint a picture of a navigator who has lost his bearings, 'Que perde o oriente / E entra em espirais.' This loss of direction is not just physical but also metaphorical, representing a deeper existential crisis. The navigator encounters 'Um contingente / Que ele já deixou pra trás,' indicating that he is haunted by past decisions and missed opportunities. The spiraling motion suggests a descent into confusion and despair, where the past continually resurfaces to torment the present.

Buarque's use of maritime imagery extends to the navigator's ship, 'carregado de ideais / Que foram escorrendo feito grãos.' This line poignantly captures the erosion of dreams and ideals over time, likening them to grains of sand slipping away. The stars, 'que não voltam nunca mais,' symbolize lost guidance and hope, leaving the navigator with 'um oceano pra lavar as mãos,' a vast, indifferent sea to cleanse his regrets. The song's melancholic tone and rich metaphors make it a poignant reflection on the human condition, exploring themes of loss, regret, and the search for meaning in an often indifferent world.