Three tunes for your enjoyment: Or, a longing to return

So, on my way back to the States from Brazil, I was browsing the duty free shop and I came across the soundtrack to the documentary film Vinicius (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493175/) (yes, yes, the very one: de Moraes ;). Thinking of Carla’s passion for his poems and songs, and being a casual fan myself, I bought the CD to see what all the fuss is about—to learn more.

Well, the CD doesn’t disappoint. The renditions of the songs, even the well-known ones, are unique and moving.  

Listening to the music, I felt lust like when Mart’nália (http://www.martnalia.com.br/) sings “Sei lá…a vida tem sempre razão”:

Tem dias que eu fico
Pensando na vida
E sinceramente
Não vejo saída
...
Depois da chegada
Vem sempre a partida
Porque não há nada
Sem separação

The inevitable arrival, departure, and separation came up again in the heart-breaking and intriguing “Pau-de-arara (Comedor de gilete)” sung in this case by Sérgio Cassiano (http://www2.uol.com.br/sergiocassiano/ ). Despite the hunger in his Ceará, and even worse hunger in Copacabana, the singer longs to return where at least he has a name:

Vou-se embora pro meu Ceará
Porque lá tenho um nome
E aqui não sou nada, sou só Zé-com-fome

I thought of a related theme that shows up in Ryan Bingham’s (http://www.binghammusic.com/ ) “Hallelujah”
which relates the story of another poor and starving wanderer who is shot dead by a frustrated thief. Despite his relief that there:
 

Ain't no more begging on the side of the road
Ain't no more sleeping on the edge of a frown
Ain't no more favors from someone I don't know

He is not all relieved, and feels life pulling him back

So tell me now if your singing can bring me
Another day with my feet on the ground

I miss living and living misses me
…
somethings wrong cause you know I still feel alive

And this longing to still be alive somehow brings him back (?)

I'm not a one nighter
I ain't a flat liner
I've never came between the harmonies you're singing loud
Hallelujah