Berrante da Meia Noite

“Berrante da Meia Noite” by Silveira e Silveirinha is a haunting ballad that delves into themes of betrayal, redemption, and the supernatural. The song narrates a chilling story set in the remote wilderness of Goiás, Brazil, where the eerie sound of a horn (berrante) and the cries of a foreman are heard at midnight. This unsettling phenomenon is first encountered by a local man, whose fear is palpable as he realizes that no cattle driver should be out at that hour.

The story takes a turn when a skeptical man, doubting the supernatural claims, decides to spend a night in the forest to prove his bravery. At midnight, he too hears the horn and is confronted by the ghost of a cattle driver. The ghost recounts his tragic tale of betrayal and murder at the hands of a treacherous companion who killed him for money. The ghost reveals that he has been haunting the forest, playing his horn to remember his lost companions and lament his lonely fate.

The encounter profoundly impacts the skeptic, who asks for forgiveness for his disbelief and promises to tell the ghost’s children about their father’s redemption. The song concludes with the ghost finding peace and leaving the forest, signifying that the midnight horn will no longer sound. This narrative is rich with cultural references to Brazilian folklore and the life of cattle drivers, blending elements of ghost stories with moral lessons about faith, redemption, and the consequences of betrayal.