Só Pra Mim (On My Own)
Les Misérables
The Solitude of Unrequited Love in 'Só Pra Mim (On My Own)'
In 'Só Pra Mim (On My Own)' from the musical Les Misérables, the lyrics poignantly capture the essence of unrequited love and the solitude that accompanies it. The protagonist finds herself alone, with no friends to talk to and no voices other than her own. As night falls, she walks through the sleeping city, finding solace in her thoughts of him. The night becomes a canvas for her dreams, where she imagines his presence and feels a fleeting happiness, even if it is just a figment of her imagination.
The song delves into the protagonist's inner world, where she creates a fantasy of being with her beloved. She pretends that he brings her flowers and that she is in his arms. This act of imagination is her way of coping with the reality of his absence. The imagery of rain-soaked streets reflecting stars like a river symbolizes how her love illuminates her world, even in the darkness. However, she is acutely aware that this love exists only within her mind, a secret she confesses only to herself.
As the song progresses, the protagonist acknowledges the transient nature of her happiness. With the arrival of dawn, her beloved disappears, and the world returns to its mundane state. The trees and streets seem to age in an instant without him. Despite this, she continues to love him, living in a cycle of pretending and dreaming. The repetition of 'Eu o amo' (I love him) underscores the depth of her feelings and the pain of knowing that this love is one-sided. The song beautifully encapsulates the bittersweet experience of loving someone who may never reciprocate those feelings, highlighting the resilience and vulnerability of the human heart.