Oração ao Tempo

Maria Bethânia's 'Oração ao Tempo' is a poetic homage to the concept of time, personified as a deity with whom the singer seeks to negotiate and understand. The lyrics are a plea for time to be kind and generous, reflecting on its power over destiny and life's rhythms. Bethânia, a renowned Brazilian singer known for her emotive voice and interpretive depth, often explores themes of love, nature, and spirituality in her music, and this song is no exception.

The song's structure is a repetitive invocation to time, emphasizing its omnipresence and continuity. Bethânia's request is for time to grant her the 'legitimate pleasure' and 'precise movement' when the 'time is right,' suggesting a desire for alignment with time's flow for personal and spiritual fulfillment. The lyrics also touch upon the secrecy of the means by which this alignment is achieved, hinting at a personal and intimate understanding of time that the singer shares with no one else.

Finally, the song contemplates the impermanence of human existence ('when I have left your circle') and the possibility of transcending the physical limitations of time ('reunite on another level of connection'). This reflects a spiritual longing for eternity and a belief in a bond with time that goes beyond the material world. Bethânia's 'Oração ao Tempo' is a lyrical meditation on the relationship between human existence and the eternal, ever-present nature of time.