A Cidade Sabe
Tarcísio do Acordeon
Endless Heartache in the City: A Tale of Unrequited Love
Tarcísio do Acordeon's song "A Cidade Sabe" delves deep into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love and the pain of longing. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is suffering immensely, with the entire city aware of his plight. He describes his life as an endless film, trapped in a labyrinth of emotions where he knows what he feels but cannot escape the pain. Despite the woman's bad reputation and her indifference towards him, he remains hopelessly in love, even though it brings him immense suffering. This paradox of loving someone who causes him pain is a central theme in the song.
The song further explores the protagonist's anguish and loneliness. He finds solace only in the company of a bar, where he can vent his feelings. His friends offer advice, but he is too consumed by his sorrow to listen. The sight of the woman he loves only deepens his despair, as she pretends not to notice him, leaving him in a state of perpetual loneliness. The imagery of the bar and the disheveled state of the protagonist highlight the depth of his emotional distress.
In the final verses, the protagonist's longing takes on a more poetic and metaphysical dimension. He expresses a desire to be anything that could bring him closer to the woman he loves, from water to quench her thirst to makeup on her face. He even contemplates reincarnation, vowing to find and love her in another life if he cannot be with her in this one. This eternal devotion, even beyond death, underscores the intensity of his feelings and the tragic nature of his unrequited love. The song captures the essence of a love that is both beautiful and painful, a love that endures despite the suffering it brings.