Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, better know as Chico Buarque, is a Brazilian… Read Full Bio ↴Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, better know as Chico Buarque, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, economic and cultural reflections on Brazil.

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.

Cobra De Vidro
Chico Buarque Lyrics

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Aos quatro cantos o seu corpo
Partido
Banido
Aos quatro ventos os seus quartos
Seus cacos
De vidro
O seu veneno incomodando
A tua honra

O teu verá£o
Presta atená§á£o

Aos quatro cantos suas tripas
De graá§a
De sobra
Aos quatro ventos os seus quartos
Seus cacos
De cobra
O seu veneno arruinando
A tua filha
A plantaá§á£o
Presta atená§á£o

Aos quatro cantos seus ganidos
Seu grito
Medonho
Aos quatro ventos os seus quartos
Seus cacos
De sonho
O seu veneno temperando
A tua veia
O teu feijá£o
Presta atená§á£o
Presta atená§á£o
Presta atená§á£o

Presta atená§á£o
Presta atená§á£o

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Chico Buarque's "Cobra De Vidro" (Glass Snake) paint a vivid and dark picture of a person whose body is shattered and scattered to the four corners of the world. The broken glass and venom from this snake-like figure has spread and is causing harm to those around them, tainting their honour, ruining their harvest and even seeping into their veins. The chorus serves as a warning to "pay attention" to the damage this "cobra" is creating.

Metaphorically, this song speaks to the destructive power some individuals can hold. The imagery of a glass snake, something that appears fragile but can be deadly, is used to represent someone who may seem harmless but can cause great harm. Their shattered body and poisonous venom are symbols of the ways their actions can affect those around them. The repetition of the chorus serves as a persistent warning to listeners to stay vigilant and aware of the potential destruction this person can create.

Overall, "Cobra De Vidro" is a commentary on toxic individuals and the dangers they pose to society. Its vivid and haunting imagery leaves a lasting impression and connects to a deep-seated fear many people have of being harmed by those close to them.

Line by Line Meaning

Aos quatro cantos o seu corpo
The body is scattered to all corners

Partido
Broken

Banido
Exiled

Aos quatro ventos os seus quartos
Rooms spread across all four winds

Seus cacos
Broken pieces

De vidro
Made of glass

O seu veneno incomodando
The poison is causing discomfort

A tua honra
Your honor

O teu verá£o
Your summer

Presta atená§á£o
Pay attention

Aos quatro cantos suas tripas
The guts are scattered to all corners