O Que Os Olhos Veem
Facção Central Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas cada olho tem sua interpretação pra essa imagem
Meus olhos veem quando eu olho pra favela:
Almas tristes, sonhos frustados, esperanças destruídas, crianças sem futuro, vejo apenas vítimas e dor
Os olhos do gambé veem traficantes com AR-15 e lançador de granada, vagabundas drogadas, mães solteiras
Desempregados, embriagados no balcão do bar
Adolescentes viciados, pivetes com pipa, com rojão, avisando que os ""homi"" tão chegando
Veem em cada barraco um esconderijo, uma boca
Os olhos do político veem presas ignorantes, ingênuas
Marionetes de manuseio simples, a faca e o queijo
O passaporte pra Genebra, o talão de cheque especial
O tapete vermelho pra loja da Mercedes, o tamanco, o vestido, o Modess e o vibrador da sua puta
Veem o mar de peixes cegos que sempre mordem o mesmo anzol
Os olhos do boy, esses aí esses não veem nada, nenhum problema Os aviões com droga, o tráfico de arma
As escolas sem telhado, lousa, professor, segurança
O jovem sem acesso a livro, quadra esportiva, centro cultural
Não veem os ossos no cemitério clandestino, as vitimas da brutalidade da polícia, o povo esquecido e desassistido
Os olhos do boy só são capazes de enxergar na imagem da favela, o medo
O medo em forma de HK na ponta do seu nariz
E você, truta, o que seus olhos veem quando olham pra favela?
The lyrics of Facção Central's song O Que Os Olhos Veem address the issue of the interpretation that different people have about the favela, one of Rio de Janeiro's infamous shantytowns. The portrayal of the favela that exists in the popular imagination is limited and often one-dimensional. However, the song suggests that each individual has their unique interpretation of what the favela represents. The lyrics explore the different perspectives of four distinct groups: the singer, the police officer or 'gambé', the politician, and the privileged 'boy'.
The singer starts by acknowledging the fact that there is only one image of the favela, but it is open to interpretation. When they look at the favela, they see sad souls, frustrated dreams, shattered hopes, children without a future, and only victims and pain. The police officer, on the other hand, sees armed drug dealers with rifles and grenade launchers, drug addicts, and single mothers. They see unemployed people getting drunk at the bar, and teenagers addicted to drugs, alerting others about the approaching police. They see every shanty as a hideout, every gray-haired woman as a mother of a criminal. The politician sees ignorant and naive prey- marionettes that can be easily manipulated. They see an opportunity for a passport to Geneva, a checkbook, a red carpet for the Mercedes store, high heels, designer dresses, and vibrators. They only see the fish in the sea that always bite the same hook. Lastly, the privileged boy sees nothing. They fail to acknowledge the drug planes, arms trafficking, schools without roofs, teachers, or security, and the absence of libraries, sports facilities, and cultural centers. They don't see the victims of police brutality in clandestine cemeteries, forgotten and unassisted people; they only see fear in the image of the favela, which they solve by pointing an HK rifle.
The lyrics of this song paint a realistic picture of the harsh realities that exist within the favela through the diverse perceptions of individuals living in and outside of these marginalized communities. The artist aims to highlight these different viewpoints and urges the listeners to reflect on their own interpretation of what they see when they look at the favela.
Line by Line Meaning
O retrato da favela tem só uma imagem
Stereotypes portray favelas with a single image.
Mas cada olho tem sua interpretação pra essa imagem
Individual perspectives shape the interpretation of the favela.
Meus olhos veem quando eu olho para favela:
My eyes see the favela as:
Almas tristes, sonhos frustrados, esperanças destruídas, crianças sem futuro, vejo apenas vítimas e dor
A place where sadness, frustration, destroyed hopes, no future for children, and only victims and pain are present.
Os olhos do gambé veem traficantes com AR-15 e lançador de granada, vagabundas drogadas, mães solteiras
Police see drug dealers with weapons, drug addicts, and single mothers.
Desempregados, embriagados no balcão do bar
Also, they see unemployed individuals getting drunk at the bar.
Adolescentes viciados, pivetes com pipa, com rojão, avisando que os 'homi' tão chegando
Furthermore, they see addicted teens, young thief boys playing with kites and firecrackers, giving signals that the police are coming.
Veem em cada barraco um esconderijo, uma boca
The police see in every shack a hiding spot, and a drug dealing point.
Em cada senhora de cabelo branco, uma dona Maria, mãe de bandido
They identify every old lady as a mother of a criminal named Maria.
Os olhos do político veem presas ignorantes, ingênuas
Politicians see ignorant and naive prisoners.
Marionetes de manuseio simples, a faca e o queijo
Prisoners represent easy puppets to manipulate.
O passaporte pra Genebra, o talão de cheque especial
For politicians, it presents opportunities for passports to Switzerland and special bank accounts.
O tapete vermelho pra loja da Mercedes, o tamanco, o vestido, o Modess e o vibrador da sua puta
Other things they see are the red carpet to Mercedes shops, shoes, dresses, feminine products, and sex toys for their mistresses.
Veem o mar de peixes cegos que sempre mordem o mesmo anzol
They also see schools full of ignorant students who never progress forward.
Os olhos do boy, esses aí esses não veem nada, nenhum problema
The wealthy see nothing, no problem at all.
Os aviões com droga, o tráfico de arma
They are blinded to drug planes flying over or arms trafficking.
As escolas sem telhado, lousa, professor, segurança
They're unaware of schools lacking basic elements like roofs, chalkboards, teachers, or safety.
O jovem sem acesso a livro, quadra esportiva, centro cultural
They don't see young people without access to books, sports facilities, or cultural centers.
Não veem os ossos no cemitério clandestino, as vítimas da brutalidade da polícia, o povo esquecido e desassistido
They overlook secret graveyards with unidentified bones, victims of police brutality, people who are forgotten and unsupported.
Os olhos do boy só são capazes de enxergar na imagem da favela, o medo
The wealthy's only capacity is to see fear when looking at the favela.
O medo em forma de HK na ponta do seu nariz
They even see this fear manifest in the form of guns pointed at them.
E você, truta, o que seus olhos veem quando olham pra favela?
And you, buddy, what do you see when you look at the favela?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DumDum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind