De Sabugo a Visconde

The song "De Sabugo a Visconde" by Brazilian artist Lenine is a playful and metaphorical exploration of the transformative power of reading and knowledge. The lyrics tell the story of a corn cob that becomes an intellectual viscount, a character that seems to have been inspired by the Brazilian children's book series 'Sítio do Picapau Amarelo' by Monteiro Lobato. In this series, a corn cob is indeed turned into an intellectual viscount by a character named Pedrinho. The song uses this transformation as a metaphor for the personal growth that comes from education and cultural exposure.

Lenine's lyrics take the listener on a journey through various historical and mythical places, such as ancient Greece, the lost city of Atlantis, the reign of Pharaoh Ramses, the Great Wall of China, and the mines of King Solomon. The corn cob claims to have experienced all these adventures without ever leaving the bookshelf, emphasizing the idea that through reading, one can travel and learn about the world without physical movement. This highlights the boundless possibilities that books and education offer for mental exploration and intellectual development.

The chorus reinforces the theme of intellectual elevation through literature, with the repeated lines 'Tá no livro, tá escrito' ('It's in the book, it's written') and the mention of the character Pedrinho, who in the story, grants the corn cob its noble title. The song celebrates the value of reading and the prestige that comes with knowledge, suggesting that anyone can rise from humble beginnings ('De Sabugo') to a position of respect and intellectual stature ('a Visconde') through the power of learning.