in the clearing stands a boxer,
and a fighter by his trade
and he carries the reminders
of every glove that laid him down
and cut him till he cried out
in his anger and his shame,
“I am leaving, I am leaving.”
but the fighter still remains
(Simon & Garfunkel, “The boxer”, 1969)
I know you need your sleep now,
I know your life’s been hard.
But many men are falling,
where you promised to stand guard.
(Leonard Cohen, “Field Commander Cohen”, 1974)
now all you want to hear
is everything you fear
so don’t you come too near
(dEUS, “Bad timing”, 2005)
to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.
(e.e. cummings, 1955. visto na capa de um caderno)
books lie open on the page where I met her
and that other life
is just a memory to me now
(Tindersticks, “Whiskey and water”, 1993)
you tell me that I make no difference
well at least I’m f***ing trying
what the f*** have you done?
(Minor Threat, “In my eyes”, 1981)
I want to stay but my time is wasting
The magic lawns call my name
I want to fire a missle launcher
But I know I need to stay
(Pavement, “Date with IKEA”, 1997)
eu não esperava que a minha vida, a essa altura do campeonato, fosse como uma música do Kid Abelha. preferia que fosse algo como o Quarteto para piano e cordas em lá menor, do Mahler, mas não é – pelo menos não agora. mas ela é a letra de “Nada tanto assim”, primeira música do primeiro disco da banda da Paula Toller.
I know that a lot of what I say has been lifted off of men’s room walls
maybe I’ve crossed the wrong rivers and walked down all the wrong halls
(Silver Jews, “Random rules”, 1995)
As you pass from the tender years of youth into harsh and embittered manhood, make sure you take with you on your journey all the human emotions! Don’t leave them on the road, for you will not pick them up afterwards! Old age… is terrible and menacing, for it never gives anything back, it returns nothing!
(Nikolai Gógol, “Almas mortas”, 1842)
if I had,
if I had more,
more would be laid at your feet
(Sparklehorse, “Chaos of the galaxy / Happy man”, 1999)
it’s just a dream he keeps having
and it doesn’t seem to mean anything
(Wilco, “Summer teeth”, 1999)
all I really wanna say:
“you’re the reason I wanna stay”
(Ben Folds Five, “Don’t change your plans”, 1999)
eu não sei o que faço
p’ra essa mulher eu conquistar
porque ela é linda
muito mais do que linda
very, very beautiful
(Mamonas Assassinas, “Pelados em Santos”, 1995)
Pouco me importa.
Pouco me importa o que?
Não sei: pouco me importa.
(Alberto Caeiro, “Pouco me importa”, circa 1915)
but my dreams
they aren’t as empty
as my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
my love is vengeance
that’s never free
no one knows what it’s like
to feel these feelings
like I do
and I blame you
(Who, “Behind blue eyes”, 1971)
evil feasts on human lives
the Holy Roman Empire roots for you
(Vampire Weekend, “Walcott”, 2008)
when you leave me
the bed is empty
and I feel crazy
’cause I didn’t say anything
I wish you would tell me
how you really feel
but you’ll never tell me
’cause that’s not our deal
(Best Coast, “Our deal”, 2010)
time is a jet plane, it moves too fast
oh, but what a shame if all we’ve shared can’t last
(Bob Dylan, “You’re a big girl now”, 1974)
I never lie or never cheat
unless I think it will make you see
precisely what it is I need from you, babe
(…)
being bad never felt so good
being bad never felt so good, my dear
okay, that’s it, take a deep breath
I’ve got to get out of here
I’ve got to clear my head
(Rakes, “Work work work (pub, club, sleep)”, 2006)
felt like I ate too much butter
and drank too much rum
cause it made me feel sweet inside
warm, proud, and young
I’ve been sick inside
and angry at everyone
(Elected, “I’ll be your man”, 2006)
but if we start dreaming now
Lord knows we’ll never leave the clouds
and you’ve been so busy lately that you haven’t found the time
to open up your mind
and watch the world spinning gently out of time
(Blur, “Out of time”, 2003)
I’ve been dead to the world and I’ve chosen to be
inside under pillows with marvels and wonders
sedating my will to exist in the open
I don’t move but I keep on moving
I’m only with you
(Röyksopp, “Dead to the world”, 2005)
living up a hollow treehole
making secret documents
taking pictures of the suburbs
(Ed Harcourt, “Ghost writer”, 2003)
