Cântico Negro

Maria Bethânia's 'Cântico Negro' is a powerful and evocative song that delves into the themes of individuality, nonconformity, and the search for personal meaning. The lyrics, which are a recitation of a poem by José Régio, speak to the listener with a profound sense of defiance and self-assuredness. Bethânia's interpretation adds depth to the poem's message, using her emotive voice to convey the strength and determination of the speaker.

The song begins with the speaker rejecting the well-trodden path offered by others, symbolizing societal norms and expectations. The repeated phrase 'Vem por aqui' ('Come this way') is met with resistance as the speaker asserts their desire to forge their own path, even if it means facing hardships and uncertainty. This is a declaration of independence from the constraints of conformity, and an embrace of the unknown and the 'unexplored sand.' The speaker's glory lies in their ability to 'create inhumanities,' which can be interpreted as creating something unique and unprecedented, untouched by the influence of others.

Towards the end of the song, the speaker's connection to the divine and the diabolical suggests a transcendence beyond ordinary human experience. They claim to have been born from the love between God and the Devil, indicating a fusion of opposites and a balance between the extremes of existence. This line serves as a metaphor for the complexity of the human spirit and the multifaceted nature of our desires and drives. The song concludes with a powerful image of the speaker's life as a force of nature, untamed and unguided, reinforcing the theme of living authentically and passionately, regardless of where it may lead.