O Pastor

The song 'O Pastor' by Madredeus, a Portuguese band known for their ethereal blend of fado with modern folk music, is a hauntingly beautiful piece that evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing. The lyrics, sung in Portuguese, speak to the universal human experience of time passing and the bittersweet nature of memories. The opening lines, 'Ai que ninguém volta / Ao que já deixou' translate to 'Oh, that no one returns / To what they have left behind,' suggesting a lament for the past and the impossibility of reclaiming what has been lost. The song continues to explore the theme of the inexorable march of time and the human tendency to forget dreams and aspirations once held dear.

The recurring image of the 'cantiga do pastor,' or 'shepherd's song,' serves as a metaphor for innocence and simplicity, perhaps a time in life that was less complicated and more hopeful. The shepherd, a figure often associated with guidance and watchfulness, may also symbolize a part of oneself that remains vigilant and awake even as the rest of the world sleeps. The lyrics 'O meu sonho acaba tarde / Deixa a alma de vigia' which means 'My dream ends late / Leaves the soul on watch,' reinforce this idea of a consciousness that persists beyond our waking life, guarding the remnants of our dreams and past selves.

The repeated mention of 'Ao largo / Ainda arde / A barca / Da fantasia,' or 'Offshore / Still burns / The boat / Of fantasy,' conjures an image of a distant, untouchable realm where one's fantasies and dreams reside. It suggests a longing to escape to a place of imagination and wonder, a place that remains just out of reach. The closing line, 'Acordar é que eu não queria,' which translates to 'Waking up is what I did not want,' captures the desire to remain in the dream, to stay connected to the fantasies and memories that are so dear, yet so distant.