Chão de Giz

Zé Ramalho's 'Chão de Giz' is a song that weaves a rich tapestry of metaphors and poetic imagery to express complex emotions. The title itself, which translates to 'Chalk Floor,' sets the stage for a narrative built on impermanence and fragility, much like chalk drawings that can be easily erased. The lyrics speak of a deep loneliness and the act of spreading things over this chalk floor, suggesting a futile attempt to make sense of or give permanence to fleeting thoughts and feelings.

The song's narrator speaks of 'meros devaneios tolos' (mere foolish daydreams) that torment him, and the use of 'fotografias recortadas em jornais' (cut-out photographs in newspapers) as a metaphor for fragmented memories or moments that have been publicly exposed and dissected. The imagery of throwing someone onto a 'pano de guardar confetes' (cloth to keep confetti) evokes the aftermath of a celebration, perhaps a reference to the end of a relationship or a phase in life that was once vibrant but is now just a memory to be packed away.

The recurring theme of not indulging in a single cigarette or a kiss, and the mention of Freud, suggests a struggle with desire and the psychological implications of attachment and pleasure. The line 'Quanto ao pano dos confetes, já passou meu carnaval' (As for the confetti cloth, my carnival has passed) is particularly poignant, indicating that the time for celebration is over, and what remains is a sobering reality. The song ends with a resignation to leaving, reinforcing the transient nature of the experiences and emotions described throughout the song.