Sufocado (Drowning)

The song 'Sufocado (Drowning)' by the Brazilian sertanejo duo Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano is a poignant portrayal of the pain and complexity of unrequited love. The lyrics express the feelings of someone who is deeply in love but feels this love is not fully reciprocated. The protagonist of the song is caught in a cycle of emotional turmoil, feeling suffocated ('sufocado') by the intensity of their own feelings.

The song's narrator accuses their beloved of feigning suffering and enjoying the turmoil they cause, yet admits a deep-seated need for this person's presence and love. The repeated lines 'Sempre que eu respiro é por você' (Every time I breathe, it's for you) and 'Baby, hoje eu vivo sufocado em minha dor' (Baby, today I live suffocated in my pain) highlight the overwhelming nature of their emotions. The use of the word 'sufocado' suggests a feeling of being overwhelmed to the point of being unable to breathe, symbolizing the crushing weight of their love.

Despite the pain, the song's protagonist is unable to let go, as indicated by the lines 'Sempre que eu tento te esquecer, Fico louco pra te ver' (Every time I try to forget you, I go crazy wanting to see you). The song ends with a sense of resignation, acknowledging the unhealthy nature of the relationship but also an inability to escape the desert of longing and the desire to simply be happy. The song resonates with anyone who has experienced the bittersweet agony of loving someone who may not love them back in the same way.