Inutil Paisagem
Elis Regina/Tom Jobim Lyrics
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Pra que tanto céu
Pra que tanto mar
Pra que
De que serve esta onda que quebra
E o vento da tarde
De que serve a tarde
Inútil paisagem
Pode ser
Que não venhas mais
Que não voltes nunca mais
De que servem as flores que nascem
Pelos caminhos
Se o meu caminho
Sozinho é nada
De que servem as flores que nascem
Pelos caminhos
Se o meu caminho
Sozinho é nada
É nada
É nada
Elis Regina's song Inútil Paisagem is a beautiful and melancholic reflection about the meaning and purpose of life when one feels lost and alone. The lyrics convey a sense of existential despair, questioning the point of all the beauty in nature when the singer feels hopeless and alone. The opening lines "Mas pra que/Pra que tanto céu/Pra que tanto mar/Pra que" suggest a feeling of overwhelming insignificance in the face of the vastness of the world. The singer wonders what the purpose of the ocean and the sky is, and what good it does to have the waves breaking and the afternoon breeze blowing if they don't bring her any comfort. The phrase "inútil paisagem" ("useless landscape") expresses this sense of futility and suggests that the beauty of nature is powerless to alleviate the singer's inner pain.
The second verse continues this theme of meaninglessness and futility, as the singer wonders whether anyone or anything will ever bring her joy again. She questions the value of the flowers that grow along the roadsides, which are a symbol of natural beauty and renewal, but seem meaningless to her because she feels so alone. The repetition of the phrase "De que servem" ("What good are") emphasizes the singer's sense of emptiness, as if she's asking herself what the point of everything is. In the final lines, she declares that her path is nothing, reinforcing the feeling of despair and hopelessness that pervades the entire song.
Overall, Elis Regina's "Inútil Paisagem" is a moving reflection on the human experience of loneliness and the struggle to find meaning in life. The beauty of nature may offer some comfort, but when one is lost and alone, it can seem powerless to alleviate one's inner pain. The song is a poignant reminder that even the most beautiful things in life can seem meaningless when one feels disconnected from oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Mas pra que
What is the purpose
Pra que tanto céu
Of having so much sky
Pra que tanto mar
Of having so much sea
Pra que
What is the point
De que serve esta onda que quebra
What is the use of this breaking wave
E o vento da tarde
And the afternoon wind
De que serve a tarde
What is the purpose of the afternoon
Inútil paisagem
Useless landscape
Pode ser
It's possible
Que não venhas mais
That you may not come anymore
Que não voltes nunca mais
That you may never return
De que servem as flores que nascem
What is the use of the flowers that grow
Pelos caminhos
Along the paths
Se o meu caminho
If my path
Sozinho é nada
Alone is nothing
De que servem as flores que nascem
What is the use of the flowers that grow
Pelos caminhos
Along the paths
Se o meu caminho
If my path
Sozinho é nada
Alone is nothing
É nada
Is nothing
É nada
Is nothing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Aloysio De Oliveira, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind