Mascarada
Zé Keti Lyrics


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Vejo agora esse teu lindo olhar
Olhar que eu sonhei
E sonhei conquistar
E que num dia afinal conquistei, enfim

Findou-se o carnaval
E só nos carnavais
Encontrava-me sem
Encontrar este teu lindo olhar, porque

O poeta era eu
Cujas rimas eram compostas
Na esperança de que
Tirasses essa máscara
Que sempre me fez mal




Mal que findou só
Depois do carnaval

Overall Meaning

In this song, "Mascarada," Zé Keti reflects on his long-standing attraction to someone who hides behind a mask. He describes the joy he feels upon finally seeing this person's beautiful eyes and how he had always dreamt of conquering them. The end of the carnival marks a turning point for Zé Keti as he realizes that his poetic attempts to woo this person were fruitless until he saw the real them. He expresses relief that the mask is off and the obstacle to their relationship has been removed.


The lyrics are a commentary on how societal norms push people to wear figurative masks to protect themselves from judgement and criticism. Just like the carnival-goers who wear physical masks to hide their identities and let loose, people wear masks in everyday life to hide their true selves. Zé Keti longs for authenticity and the opportunity to connect with someone behind their mask. The idea of freedom and self-expression also comes to mind, as the thematic conclusion is something of a triumph over the dull, wearying conformity of society.


Line by Line Meaning

Vejo agora esse teu lindo olhar
I can see your beautiful gaze now


Olhar que eu sonhei
A gaze that I dreamed of


E sonhei conquistar
And I dreamed of winning over


E que num dia afinal conquistei, enfim
And in the end, I finally won it over on a certain day


Findou-se o carnaval
Carnival has ended


E só nos carnavais
And only during Carnivals


Encontrava-me sem
I found myself without


Encontrar este teu lindo olhar, porque
Finding your beautiful gaze, because


O poeta era eu
I was the poet


Cujas rimas eram compostas
Whose rhymes were composed


Na esperança de que
In the hope that


Tirasses essa máscara
You would take off that mask


Que sempre me fez mal
That always hurt me


Mal que findou só
Hurt that only ended


Depois do carnaval
After Carnival




Contributed by Allison C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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