Remaining true to the experimental and dada impulses of tropicalia, Zé has been noted for both his unorthodox approach to melody and instrumentation, employing unique instruments such as a typewriter. He has collaborated with many of the concrete poets of São Paulo, including Augusto de Campos, and employed concrete techniques in his lyrics. Musically, his work appropriates samba, bossa nova, Brazilian folk music, forró, and American rock and roll, among others. He has been praised by avant-garde composers for his use of dissonance, polytonality, and unusual time signatures.
In the early 1990s, Zé's work experienced a revival when American musician David Byrne discovered one of his albums, Estudando o Samba (1975), on a visit to Rio de Janeiro. Byrne went on to release a compilation of Zé's material as well as two full-length albums of new songs on his Luaka Bop label. A guitar riff from Zé's song Jimmy, Renda-se is sampled on R&B singer Amerie's song Take Control.
Quote: "I don't make art, I make spoken and sung journalism."
Correio da Estação do Brás
Tom Zé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feira de Santana
quem quiser mandar recado
remeter pacote
uma carta cativante
a rua numerada
o nome maiusculoso
pra evitar enganoou então que o destino
se destrave longe.
Meticuloso, meu prazer
não tem medida,
chegue aqui na quinta-feira
antes da partida.
Me dê seu nome pra no
caso de o destinatário
ter morrido ou se mudado
eu não ficar avexado
e possa trazer de volta
o que lá fica sem dono.
nem chegando nem voltando
ficando sem ter pousada
como uma alma penada.
De forma que não achando
o seu prezado parente
eu volto em cima do rastro
na semana reticente
devolvo seu envelope
intacto, certo e fechado.
odeio disse-me-disse
condeno a bisbilhotice.
Se se der o sucedido
me aguarde aqui no piso
pois voltando com a resposta,notícia, carta ou pacote
-- ou até lhe devolvendo
o desencontro choroso
da missão desincumprida
estarei aqui na certa
sete domingos seguidos
a partir do mês em frente.
Palavra de homem racha
mas não volta diferente.
The song "Correio da Estação do Brás" by Tom Zé describes the experience of a mail carrier, traveling from Feira de Santana on a Monday, who offers to deliver any letters, packages or messages to anyone with a numbered street address and a capitalized name to avoid confusion. The singer takes pride in his meticulous delivery service, promising to return any undeliverable items safely and unopened. He even asks for the sender's name, in case the intended recipient has moved or passed away, so he can return the item to its rightful owner.
The song emphasizes the importance of communication and the value of keeping in touch with loved ones. It also speaks to the universal human desire for connection and the fear of losing touch with friends and family. The singer's dedication to his job also illustrates the value of hard work and the importance of taking pride in one's work, no matter how mundane it may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu viajo segunda-feira
I am leaving on Monday
Feira de Santana
to Feira de Santana
quem quiser mandar recado
If anyone wants to send a message
remeter pacote
or send a package
uma carta cativante
a captivating letter
a rua numerada
with a numbered street
o nome maiusculoso
a capitalized name
pra evitar engano
to avoid confusion
ou então que o destino
Or if the destination
se destrave longe.
is far away.
Meticuloso, meu prazer
I take pleasure in being meticulous
não tem medida,
there is no limit
chegue aqui na quinta-feira
Arrive here on Thursday
antes da partida.
before I leave.
Me dê seu nome pra no
Give me your name so that in case
caso de o destinatário
the intended recipient
ter morrido ou se mudado
has died or moved
eu não ficar avexado
I won't be upset
e possa trazer de volta
and can bring back
o que lá fica sem dono.
what is left behind.
nem chegando nem voltando
Neither arriving nor returning
ficando sem ter pousada
without a place to stay
como uma alma penada.
like a wandering soul.
De forma que não achando
So if I can't find
o seu prezado parente
your esteemed relative
eu volto em cima do rastro
I will return following the trail
na semana reticente
the following uncertain week
devolvo seu envelope
I'll return your envelope
intacto, certo e fechado.
intact, secure, and sealed.
odeio disse-me-disse
I hate gossip
condeno a bisbilhotice.
I condemn nosiness.
Se se der o sucedido
If it so happens
me aguarde aqui no piso
Wait for me here
pois voltando com a resposta,
As I return with the answer,
notícia, carta ou pacote
News, letter, or package
-- ou até lhe devolvendo
-- or even returning to you
o desencontro choroso
the sad mismatch
da missão desincumprida
of the unfulfilled mission
estarei aqui na certa
I will surely be here
sete domingos seguidos
for seven consecutive Sundays
a partir do mês em frente.
starting next month.
Palavra de homem racha
A man's word is his bond
mas não volta diferente.
and he won't go back on it.
Contributed by David F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.