Blues Para Emmett

Vinicius de Moraes' song "Blues Para Emmett" is a haunting and evocative tribute to Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. The song's lyrics paint a vivid and chilling picture of the events surrounding Emmett's death, capturing the brutality and senselessness of the act. The assassins are described with stark, visceral imagery, such as "mascando cacos de vidro" (chewing glass shards) and "seu hálito de couro" (their leather breath), which emphasizes their inhumanity and the cold-blooded nature of their crime.

The song delves into the moment of Emmett's murder, portraying the killers as they "descarregaram-lhe em cima o fogo de suas armas" (unloaded their weapons on him) while he was kneeling. This powerful imagery not only highlights the violence of the act but also the helplessness of the victim. The mention of the woman making a stew to await her husband's return, who went to avenge her, adds a layer of tragic irony and underscores the twisted justification used to rationalize such a heinous act.

Vinicius de Moraes, a renowned Brazilian poet, and musician, uses his lyrical prowess to convey a deep sense of sorrow and outrage. His choice of the blues genre, traditionally associated with expressing pain and suffering, is particularly fitting for this song. The cultural and historical context of Emmett Till's murder, which became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, adds further weight to the song's message. Through "Blues Para Emmett," de Moraes not only memorializes Emmett Till but also condemns the pervasive racism and violence that led to his untimely death.