O Caçador De Esmeralda
João Bosco Lyrics

The lyrics of João Bosco's song, "O Caçador De Esmeralda," depict the story of Fernão, a man who falls in love with a "sereia do sertão," or a mermaid-like figure in the wilderness. The song begins with the image of "verde que te quiero oro," which can be translated to "green, I love you as I love gold." This line alludes to the preciousness and beauty of nature, specifically the emerald that Fernão seeks. The next line, "bandeiras removendo a terra," translates to "flags removing the land," referring to the exploratory nature of the bandeirantes, Brazilian pioneers who searched for resources in the wilderness. The third line, "esmeralda que aguarda agora no riacho além de Tordesilhas," speaks of the emerald that awaits in a stream beyond Tordesillas, a Spanish town known for the Treaty of Tordesillas that divided lands between Portugal and Spain.

The second stanza describes Fernão's attraction to the "sereia do sertão" and how he's willing to do anything to win her over. He's infatuated by her "imagem virgem," or pure image and her "miragem esverdeada ao sol," or green mirage reflecting the sunlight. He tastes her in the honey of bees and the fruit, and his passion fuels his determination to get Esmeralda, whom he calls the "inferno de Fernão."

The final stanza portrays Fernão and Esmeralda's relationship as reckless, symbolized by their escapades in a two-door Volkswagen in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood. The line, "o enleio dos delirantes," emphasizes their wild and crazy love that drives them to madness. The overall interpretation of the song is that the pursuit of valuable resources can often bring out the worst in people, leading them to disregard the sanctity of nature and act recklessly in their obsession with possessing it.