Love In The Afternoon
Legião Urbana
A Melancholic Ode to Lost Love and Friendship
Legião Urbana's song "Love In The Afternoon" is a poignant reflection on the premature loss of loved ones and the enduring impact they leave behind. The lyrics, penned by Renato Russo, delve into the bittersweet memories of a relationship that ended too soon. The recurring theme of 'cedo demais' (too soon) underscores the sense of untimely departure, whether it be through death or the end of a significant relationship. This phrase encapsulates the feeling of unfinished business and the abruptness of losing someone dear before their time.
The song's narrative is deeply personal, recounting the narrator's experiences and emotions tied to a lost love. The lines "Os bons morrem jovens" (The good die young) and "Eu continuo aqui" (I continue here) juxtapose the permanence of the narrator's life with the fleeting presence of the loved one. This contrast highlights the enduring pain and the struggle to move forward while cherishing the memories of the past. The mention of everyday occurrences like rain and sunshine serves to illustrate how the memory of the lost one permeates the narrator's daily life, making their absence even more palpable.
Moreover, the song touches on the universal difficulty of dealing with loss. The narrator admits, "Só não aprendi a perder" (I just haven't learned to lose), a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of losing someone close. The song's melancholic tone is softened by a sense of acceptance and peace, as seen in the lines "Vai com os anjos, vai em paz" (Go with the angels, go in peace). This duality of sorrow and acceptance makes "Love In The Afternoon" a deeply moving tribute to lost love and friendship, capturing the essence of human vulnerability and the enduring impact of those who leave us too soon.