Feirante

João Alexandre's song 'Feirante' paints a vivid picture of the life of a market vendor, capturing the essence of resilience and perseverance. The lyrics open with the vendor preparing for the day, highlighting the physical and emotional burdens they carry. The phrase 'a rapadura é doce mas não é mole não' (the sugarcane is sweet but not easy) serves as a metaphor for the hardships of life, emphasizing that while there are sweet moments, they come with significant effort and struggle. The mention of 'genipapo no balaio pesa' (the genipap in the basket is heavy) further underscores the weight of their daily challenges.

The song delves deeper into the theme of life's difficulties with the rhetorical question, 'Quem foi que te disse que a vida é um mar de rosas?' (Who told you that life is a bed of roses?). This line, repeated for emphasis, challenges the listener to acknowledge the reality of life's struggles. The imagery of 'rosas têm espinhos, e pedras no caminho' (roses have thorns, and stones on the path) poetically conveys that beauty and hardship coexist. The journey to the city, described as being many leagues away, symbolizes the long and arduous path one must travel to achieve their goals.

Despite the hardships, the song carries a message of hope and determination. The vendor is urged to 'firma o passo, segue em frente' (steady your step, move forward) because the struggle is relentless. The line 'na Quitanda da Esperança eu te compro um sonho de açucar mascavo embrulhado num papel de seda azul' (at the Market of Hope, I'll buy you a brown sugar dream wrapped in blue silk paper) offers a promise of comfort and reward after enduring life's trials. This promise of a sweet dream symbolizes the small joys and comforts that make the journey worthwhile, providing a sense of consolation and hope for the future.