Manhata
Caetano Veloso Lyrics

The song "Manhata" by Caetano Veloso is a poetic and complex reflection on the global influence and power of Manhattan. The song starts with an image of a canoe floating from north to south in the early morning, with a goddess of legend on the prow holding up a torch. This powerful image is immediately followed by the phrase "all the men in the world turned their eyes in that direction", which highlights the magnetic effect that Manhattan has on the world. The taste of the wind sings the sweet name of the young woman on the glass, and the repetition of the word "Manhattan" turns it into a kind of incantation.

The song then moves to reflect on the global financial power of Manhattan, describing it as a whirlwind of money that sweeps across the whole world. As this is happening, wars are being fought amid the supposed peace of love, highlighting the conflicting forces at work within the city. The song ends with a reflection on the impermanence of joy and exaltation, with the image of a beautiful girl biting into the flesh of an apple.

Overall, "Manhata" is a complex and powerful reflection on the cultural, economic, and political power of Manhattan, and the ways in which it exerts its influence over the world.