Gilberto Gil’s Não Tenho Medo da Morte

i absolutely adore gilberto and his music, but this one in particular moves me beyond anything i’ve ever listened to.

this song illustrates a feeling that i have always had in relation to death: the fear lies in the act of dying rather than death itself. death isn’t at all scary, i won’t be here to witness its painful nature. but i’ll have to be present in the act of dying, and that is where all the anxiety and fear lies.

“i will have to die while living knowing that i am already leaving” is my absolute favourite line in the song. the pain lies in knowing what is being left behind, not in what lies ahead. i love this song!