The firstborn son of Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, Buarque lived at several locations throughout his childhood, though mostly in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Rome. He wrote and studied literature as a child and found music through the bossa nova compositions of Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. He performed as a singer and guitarist in the 1960s as well as writing a play that was deemed dangerous by the Brazilian military dictatorship of the time. Buarque, along with several Tropicalist and MPB musicians, was threatened by the Brazilian military government and eventually left Brazil for Italy in 1969. However, he came back to Brazil in 1970, and continued to record, perform, and write, though much of his material was suppressed by government censors. He released several more albums in the 1980s and published three novels in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2019, Buarque was awarded the Camões Prize, the most important prize for literature in the Portuguese language.
Barbara
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 to Chico Buarque's song Bárbara express a sense of urgency and desperation for love. The singer addresses Bárbara, declaring that it is never too late for them to be together. The repeated refrain emphasizes the need for Bárbara to come and find the singer wherever they may be.
The singer describes their destiny as walking through life in a desperate and vulnerable state, ultimately knowing that they will belong to Bárbara by the end of the night. The singer offers to protect Bárbara from all evils, fears, and rain, accumulating pleasures for her in a bed of widowhood. The lyrics are passionate and intense, conveying a sense of all-consuming desire and longing.
The second verse continues with the theme of temptation and desire. The singer suggests that they give in to the temptation of their raw, unfiltered passion for each other. They will dive headfirst into the dark pit of their desires, living in agony for their meaningless love. Yet this love is described as marvelous and overflowing with emotions, much like a hemorrhage.
Overall, the lyrics to Bárbara use powerful metaphors and vivid descriptions to depict a passionate, all-consuming love that transcends time and space.
Line by Line Meaning
Bárbara, Bárbara
Addressing the person named Barbara twice
Nunca é tarde, nunca é demais
It's never too late or too much to love someone
Onde estou, onde estás
Asking where I am and where you are
Meu amor, vem me buscar
Asking my love to come and find me
O meu destino é caminhar assim
My destiny is to walk like this
Desesperada e nua
Desperate and naked
Sabendo que no fim da noite serei tua
Knowing that by the end of the night, I'll be yours
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
Collecting pleasures for your widow's bed
Vamos ceder enfim à tentação
Let's finally give in to temptation
Das nossas bocas cruas
With our raw mouths
E mergulhar no poço escuro de nós duas
And dive into the dark well of us two
Vamos viver agonizando uma paixão vadia
Let's live with a wild passion, agonizingly
Maravilhosa e transbordante, como uma hemorragia
Fantastic and overflowing, like a hemorrhage
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.