Balcão de Madeira

In the song "Balcão de Madeira" by Fernando e Sorocaba, the wooden bar serves as a poignant symbol of love and loss. The lyrics recount a love story that began at this very bar, where the protagonist etched their names and a heart with a beer cap. This act of carving their love into the wood signifies a moment of deep emotional connection and commitment. However, as time passed, the love faded, described as being erased by the 'cowardly' passage of time. This metaphor highlights the inevitability of change and the pain of lost love.

The wooden bar becomes a place of reflection and sorrow for the protagonist. They spend entire nights leaning on the bar, drinking and pondering why the relationship ended. The bar, once a symbol of love, now represents solitude and heartache. The repetition of the phrase "Ah balcão de madeira" emphasizes the deep emotional bond the protagonist has with this place, almost as if the bar itself is a silent witness to their suffering.

In a dramatic turn, the protagonist contemplates burning the bar, saying, "Antes que você me mate, faço você de fogueira" (Before you kill me, I'll make you a bonfire). This line suggests a desire to destroy the physical reminder of their pain, as if by burning the bar, they could also burn away the memories and the heartache associated with it. The song captures the essence of heartbreak, nostalgia, and the struggle to move on from a love that once was but is no more.