Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: samba
Song Meaning of “Praça Onze” by Graça Braga
‘Praça Onze’ is a poignant and stirring song by Graça Braga that takes us on a journey through the cherished memories of her home town of Lisbon, Portugal. The song paints a vivid picture of a place where memories are made and kept alive in the hearts of its people. Through her words, Graça speaks to her listeners of the significance of Praça Onze, a place where every morning she and her friends would, ‘drink up their coffee with sugar and go out for a stroll’ and how it continues to symbolize the joy and freedom of childhood and the simple innocence of days gone by.
From a lyrical point of view, Graça speaks of nostalgia with a sense of resolution, of realizing that the times have changed but still appreciating the significance of the special moments. In her lyrical delivery, she conveys a sense of admiration for the place even while recognizing the pain and longing of not being able to be there anymore. In the chorus, she emotionally sings, ‘no more playgrounds around here, we left them behind with the children’s laughter,’ which underscores the bittersweet feeling of watching a place change while remembering fondly the innocence of childhood and the beauty of the past.