Certas Canções

Milton Nascimento's 'Certas Canções' is a heartfelt ode to the profound impact that certain songs can have on our lives. The lyrics express a deep connection between the listener and the music, suggesting that some songs resonate so deeply that they feel as if they were personally written for the listener. This intimate bond is highlighted in the lines, 'Certas canções que ouço / Cabem tão dentro de mim / Que perguntar carece / Como não fui eu que fiz,' which translates to 'Certain songs I hear / Fit so deeply within me / That it begs the question / How was it not I who made them.' This sentiment captures the universal experience of finding solace, understanding, and reflection in music.

The song also delves into the emotional power of music, describing how it can reach the soul without causing pain, akin to love. Nascimento sings, 'Certa emoção me alcança / Corta-me a alma sem dor / Certas canções me chegam / Como se fosse o amor,' meaning 'A certain emotion reaches me / Cuts my soul without pain / Certain songs come to me / As if it were love.' This metaphorical comparison to love underscores the transformative and healing qualities of music, which can evoke deep emotions and provide comfort.

Furthermore, the lyrics touch on the diverse elements of life that music can encapsulate, from the mundane to the profound. Phrases like 'Contos da água e do fogo / Cacos de vidas no chão / Cartas do sonho do povo / E o coração pro cantor' ('Tales of water and fire / Shards of lives on the ground / Letters from the people's dream / And the heart for the singer') illustrate how songs can tell stories, reflect collective dreams, and convey the essence of human experience. The imagery of 'Vida e mais vida ou ferida / Chuva, outono ou mar / Carvão e giz, abrigo / Gesto molhado no olhar' ('Life and more life or wound / Rain, autumn or sea / Coal and chalk, shelter / Wet gesture in the look') further emphasizes the multifaceted nature of music, capturing both the beauty and the pain of existence.

In 'Certas Canções,' Milton Nascimento masterfully conveys the profound and multifaceted impact of music on the human soul, celebrating its ability to connect, heal, and inspire.