Barbara
Caetano Veloso & Chico Buarque Lyrics
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Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
Onde estou, onde estás
Meu amor, vem me buscar
O meu destino é caminhar assim
Desesperada e nua
Sabendo que no fim da noite serei tua
Acumulando de prazeres teu leito de viúva
Bárbara, Bárbara
Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
Onde estou, onde estás
Meu amor vem me buscar
Vamos ceder enfim à tentação
Das nossas bocas cruas
E mergulhar no poço escuro de nós duas
Vamos viver agonizando uma paixão vadia
Maravilhosa e transbordante, como uma hemorragia
Bárbara, Bárbara
Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
Onde estou, onde estás
Meu amor vem me buscar
Bárbara
The lyrics of "Bárbara" by Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque are a love song about two people, presumably women, who are deeply in love with each other. The repeated refrain of "Bárbara, Bárbara / Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais / Onde estou, onde estás / Meu amor, vem me buscar" ("Barbara, Barbara / It's never too late, it's never too much / Where I am, where you are / My love, come and get me") suggests a sense of longing and a desire to be reunited with the other person.
The verses describe the singer's feelings of desperation and vulnerability as they navigate their love for Barbara. The line "O meu destino é caminhar assim / Desesperada e nua / Sabendo que no fim da noite serei tua" ("My destiny is to walk like this / Desperate and bare / Knowing that at the end of the night I will be yours") reinforces this sense of vulnerability, as the singer is giving themselves over completely to their love for Barbara.
The song also explores the idea of temptation and desire, as the singers give in to the temptation to be together and "merge in the dark well of the two of us." The closing line, "Maravilhosa e transbordante, como uma hemorragia" ("Wonderful and overflowing, like a hemorrhage"), implies that the love between these two women is powerful and intense, even in a society where their love may not be accepted.
Overall, "Bárbara" is a beautiful and poignant song about love, desire, and vulnerability in the face of social norms and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Bárbara, Bárbara
The singer addresses Bárbara, repeating her name to grab her attention.
Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
It's never too late, and never too much, to pursue love and passion.
Onde estou, onde estás
Wherever I am and wherever you are, my love, come find me.
Meu amor, vem me buscar
My love, come and find me, and let us be together.
O meu destino é caminhar assim
My destiny is to walk through life with desperation and vulnerability.
Desesperada e nua
I am desperate and exposed, with nothing left to hide.
Sabendo que no fim da noite serei tua
Knowing that by the end of the night I will belong to you.
Deixa eu te proteger do mal, dos medos e da chuva
Let me protect you from evil, fears, and rain.
Acumulando de prazeres teu leito de viúva
Accumulating pleasures on your widow's bed.
Vamos ceder enfim à tentação
Let us finally give in to temptation.
Das nossas bocas cruas
From our raw, unfiltered mouths.
E mergulhar no poço escuro de nós duas
And dive into the dark well of ourselves.
Vamos viver agonizando uma paixão vadia
Let us live with a wild, passionate agony.
Maravilhosa e transbordante, como uma hemorragia
Wonderful and overflowing, like a hemorrhage.
Bárbara, Bárbara
The singer addresses Bárbara again, repeating her name to emphasize the message.
Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
It's never too late, and never too much, to pursue love and passion.
Onde estou, onde estás
Wherever I am and wherever you are, my love, come find me.
Meu amor vem me buscar
My love, come and find me, and let us be together.
Bárbara
The song ends with the singer calling out to Bárbara one last time.
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.