O disco traz grandes sucessos do músico, entre os quais estão as músicas de protesto contra a ditadura militar "Cálice" (com participação de Milton Nascimento) e "Apesar de Você", que tiveram grande repercussão na época.
Pelas Tabelas
Chico Buarque Lyrics
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Claro que ninguém se importa com minha aflição
Quando vi todo mundo na rua de blusa amarela
Eu achei que era ela puxando o cordão
Oito horas e danço de blusa amarela
Minha cabeça talvez faça as pazes assim
Quando ouvi a cidade de noite batendo as panelas
Eu pensei que era ela voltando prá mim
Minha cabeça de noite batendo panelas
Provavelmente não deixa a cidade dormir
Quando vi um bocado de gente
Descendo as favelas
Eu achei que era o povo que vinha pedir
A cabeça de um homem que olhava as favelas
Minha cabeça rolando no Maracanã
Quando vi a galera aplaudindo de pé as tabelas
Eu jurei que era ela que vinha chegando
Com minha cabeça já pelas tabelas
Claro que ninguém se importa... chegando
In Chico Buarque's song "Pelas tabelas," the singer is describing his chaotic state of mind, which he characterizes as being "já pelas tabelas," or "through the tables." He feels as though he is spinning out of control, and that no one around him cares about his distress. He sees people wearing yellow shirts and thinks that it might be her, pulling on a string or trying to communicate with him. He dances until late at night in his own yellow shirt, hoping that it will somehow bring him closer to her. He hears the sound of people beating on pots and pans in the city at night, and he thinks that it might be her, returning to him. He sees a crowd of people walking down from the favela, and he thinks that they might be coming to take his head, as if he were a dangerous criminal. He imagines himself being beheaded in Maracanã, and he believes that the crowds are giving him a standing ovation, thinking that it is her coming to him.
The lyrics of "Pelas tabelas" use a series of surrealistic images and metaphors to emphasize the singer's heightened sense of paranoia and anxiety. The yellow shirt becomes a symbol of hope and connection to the person he is missing. The sound of people beating on pots and pans is a reference to the political protests that were happening in Brazil during the time when the song was written. The singer's fear of being attacked by a mob of people from the favela underscores the class tensions that were also present in Brazilian society at that time. The reference to Maracanã, one of Brazil's most famous soccer stadiums, adds another layer of significance to the lyrics, as soccer is often seen as an important part of Brazilian culture and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Ando com minha cabeça já pelas tabelas
I am extremely overwhelmed and confused.
Claro que ninguém se importa com minha aflição
Of course, nobody cares about my distress.
Quando vi todo mundo na rua de blusa amarela
When I saw everyone on the street wearing yellow shirts,
Eu achei que era ela puxando o cordão
I thought it was her leading the crowd.
Oito horas e danço de blusa amarela
At eight o'clock, I dance in my yellow shirt,
Minha cabeça talvez faça as pazes assim
Perhaps my mind can find peace this way.
Quando ouvi a cidade de noite batendo as panelas
When I heard the city banging pots at night,
Eu pensei que era ela voltando prá mim
I thought it was her returning to me.
Minha cabeça de noite batendo panelas
My mind, banging pots at night,
Provavelmente não deixa a cidade dormir
Surely, it does not let the city sleep.
Quando vi um bocado de gente descendo as favelas
When I saw a lot of people coming down from the favelas,
Eu achei que era o povo que vinha pedir
I thought it was the people coming to ask for something.
A cabeça de um homem que olhava as favelas
The head of a man who was looking at the favelas,
Minha cabeça rolando no Maracanã
My head rolling at Maracanã stadium,
Quando vi a galera aplaudindo de pé as tabelas
When I saw the crowd giving a standing ovation to the scoreboards,
Eu jurei que era ela que vinha chegando
I swore it was her who was coming.
Com minha cabeça já pelas tabelas
With my mind already confused and overwhelmed,
Claro que ninguém se importa... chegando
Of course, nobody cares... about her arrival.
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.