Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight
Zé Ramalho Lyrics

The lyrics to Zé Ramalho's rendition of Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight are a melancholy reflection on the past and its impact on the present. The opening lines speak to a sense of longing for a way to return to a familiar place, invoking a feeling of nostalgia for what was once a simpler time. The repetition of the phrase "once there was a way" reinforces the idea that this has become an impossible dream, a way that has been lost. The singer's promise to sing a lullaby to ease the listener's pain and help them sleep is bittersweet, as it cannot erase the sense of loss that permeates the song.

As the song progresses, the lyrics become more abstract, with the phrase "golden slumbers" taking on a more metaphorical meaning. The reference to waking with a smile suggests that the singer is addressing someone they care about deeply, and whose sadness they are trying to alleviate. The repeated refrain to "sleep pretty darlin' do not cry" underscores the idea that this is a comfort song, an attempt to provide solace to someone in distress.

The final lines of the song, "Boy, you're gonna carry that weight / Carry that weight for a long time," introduce a note of regret and resignation. The "weight" the singer refers to is likely a metaphor for emotional baggage or trauma, something that the person they are addressing will have to carry with them for a long time. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the gravity of this burden and the inevitability of its presence in the singer's life.