Tardei
Rodrigo Amarante Lyrics

The lyrics of Rodrigo Amarante's song Tardei speaks of the singer's long-awaited arrival and the various struggles he has faced in getting there. The repeated use of 'Tardei' (I was late) emphasizes the delay in his arrival but it creates an effect of anticipation in the listener. The line 'Pra cada adeus um nó' (For every goodbye, a knot) indicates that the singer has had to say goodbye to people or places in order to arrive at his destination. The line 'Cada conta, o fio do rosário que eu/ Vim banhar, pra lhe dar' (Every account, the rosary bead that I/ Came to bathe, to give to you) gives the imagery of the singer cleansing himself, like in a ritual or pilgrimage, to offer something of value to the person he is addressing in the song.

As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the choices or paths that led him to his destination, pondering on which was the right one to take, indicated by 'Qual senda me levou/ Qual me trouxe aqui' (Which path led me/ Which one brought me here). The line 'Para encontrar você/ Onde está, meu lugar?' (To find you/ Where is my place?) suggests that the singer has found a sense of belonging with the person he is addressing in the song. The repetition of 'Desceu pelo rio/ Da terra pro mar/ Um fio de prata que me leva' (It flowed down the river/ From the land to the sea/ A silver thread that leads me) creates a calming, meditative effect, perhaps indicating a sense of surrender to fate.

Overall, Rodrigo Amarante's Tardei is a personal reflection on the singer's journey towards a desired destination, both physically and emotionally. The use of religious imagery, nature, and the repetitiveness of certain phrases and lines create a hypnotic rhythm that expresses the singer's long-awaited arrival.