Estilhaços literally translates to "shrapnel" or "splinters". It's a powerful and dramatic word you don't hear every day, especially in a beautiful, calm ballad like this one.
In the song, António Zambujo sings about walking "entre balas e estilhaços" (between bullets and shrapnel). He uses this intense imagery as a metaphor for the chaotic and painful inner state he is desperate to escape. This striking contrast between the gentle melody and the violent lyrics makes estilhaços a truly unforgettable word.
Leva-me De Mim is a poetic plea for escape. António Zambujo and Miguel Araújo sing from the point of view of someone who feels trapped inside his own skin and longs for a trusted partner to whisk him away. The narrator does not care about the destination; what matters is fleeing from the rubble of his past self, outrunning the wind and even time itself. By asking, “Leva-me de mim” (“Take me away from myself”), he dreams of finally becoming “what I never was,” free from old fears and limitations.
Behind the gentle melody you will hear urgency, humor, and bold imagery: walking “between bullets and shrapnel,” slipping “through the great door on shoulders,” or simply vanishing “beyond the setting sun.” These lines mix danger with optimism, creating a cinematic road trip where the only luggage is hope. In short, the song invites us to imagine that reinvention is possible if we just dare to grab a friend’s hand, leave the past in ruins, and step into the wide unknown with a lighter heart.