Carcará (feat. Chico Buarque)

João do Vale's song 'Carcará,' featuring Chico Buarque, is a vivid portrayal of the harsh realities of life in the Brazilian sertão, or backlands. The carcará, a bird of prey native to the region, serves as a powerful metaphor for resilience and survival. The lyrics describe the carcará as a fierce and relentless predator, capable of flying like an airplane and possessing a curved beak similar to a hawk's. This bird is depicted as a symbol of strength and adaptability, thriving even in the most challenging conditions.

The song paints a picture of the carcará's hunting habits, emphasizing its ability to find food in a scorched landscape. When the fields are burned, the carcará takes to the skies, singing and hunting for its next meal. The bird's diet is not limited to easy prey; it even consumes burnt snakes, showcasing its resourcefulness. The lyrics highlight the bird's unyielding nature, stating that even when the rainy season arrives and the fields are no longer burned, the carcará does not go hungry. It preys on newborn lambs, demonstrating its relentless drive to survive.

'Carcará' also touches on themes of courage and tenacity. The bird is described as having more bravery than a man, a testament to its formidable presence in the sertão. The repeated refrain 'Carcará, pega, mata e come' (Carcará, catches, kills, and eats) underscores the bird's ruthless efficiency and determination. Through this powerful imagery, João do Vale and Chico Buarque capture the essence of life in the sertão, where survival often requires a fierce and unyielding spirit, much like that of the carcará.