Menina do Sonho

Gilberto Gil's song 'Menina do Sonho' delves into the ethereal and often elusive nature of dreams and the subconscious. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a dream girl who fails to visit the narrator's dreams, leaving him in a state of longing and introspection. The song opens with the narrator questioning whether the dream girl came to wake him but he was too deep in sleep to notice. This sets the tone for a contemplative exploration of missed connections and the mysteries of the subconscious mind.

The dream girl, or 'menina do sonho,' symbolizes an ideal or a deeply desired connection that remains just out of reach. Gil's lyrics suggest that she might have tried to discover him amidst his heavy sleep, but ultimately, she was moved by what she saw in the depths of his soul. This encounter, or lack thereof, leaves the narrator pondering the nature of his own inner world and the reasons why this dream girl chose not to linger. The dream girl’s departure to find another 'morada pro sonho' (home for the dream) underscores the transient and fleeting nature of dreams and desires.

The song also touches on themes of abandonment and the ephemeral quality of existence. The dream girl, described as a fairy ('fada'), is destined to live in the realm of nothingness, embodying the transient and illusory nature of dreams. The narrator's musings about who else might have been visited by this dream girl or a cherub ('querubim') add a layer of universality to the song, suggesting that the experience of missed connections and unfulfilled desires is a common human experience. Through its poetic and introspective lyrics, 'Menina do Sonho' invites listeners to reflect on their own dreams, desires, and the elusive nature of the subconscious mind.