Ponta de Areia
Wayne Shorter Lyrics

The lyrics to Wayne Shorter's song "Ponta de Areia" speak of the end of an era and the fading of a time long gone. The first line, "Ponta de areia, ponto final," refers to a specific point on the coast of Brazil, where the land meets the sea. It is said that this was the final destination for a natural road that connected the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, which was once used as a means of transportation for mining goods. The second line, "Da Bahia à Minas, estrada natural," acknowledges the historical significance of this natural road in connecting the two regions.

However, as time passed and technology advanced, the natural road became obsolete, as reflected in the lyrics "Que ligava Minas ao porto, ao mar / Caminho do ferro mandaram arrancar" ("That connected Minas to the port and the sea / The railroad path they had to take away"). The song then speaks of a "velho maquinista" ("old train driver") who remembers the happy people who used to travel the railway to see their loved ones. But now, there is no more "Maria Fumaça" (a type of train) singing for the girls, flowers, windows, and backyards. All that's left are "Casas esquecidas, viúvas nos portais" ("Forgotten houses, widows on the doorsteps") and an empty square with only the sound of cries and pain.

Overall, the lyrics of "Ponta de Areia" convey a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, but also acknowledge the inevitability of progress and change. It speaks to the universal theme of time marching on and leaving behind what was once cherished.