Retalhar means 'to shred' or 'to cut into pieces'. It's a strong, evocative verb that suggests a deliberate and somewhat violent act of destruction.
In the context of the song, the lyrics "Retalhar as cortinas desarmadas / Com a faca surda que a fé sujou" (Shred the unarmed curtains / With the dull knife that faith stained) paint a surreal and rebellious picture. It's not a word you hear every day, making it memorable and intriguing, hinting at the song's deeper, more philosophical themes of deconstruction and questioning.
"Depois do Começo" piles up small acts of domestic anarchy — leaving the windows open, tying a wire around the neck, using a fire extinguisher as a bedsheet — as a way of shaking a "blind and medieval house" loose from its own habits. Renato Russo strings the images together less as a story than as a dare: burn through the ordinary rules of a home and see what's left standing.
The chorus turns that chaos into a small statement about faith and time. Right before it, the line "Deus, Deus, somos todos ateus" (God, God, we are all atheists) sets up a swap: "Vamos cortar os cabelos do príncipe / E entregá-los a um deus plebeu" (Let's cut the prince's hair / And give it to a plebeian god) trades a distant God for something rougher and closer to hand. Then the refrain closes the loop: "E depois do começo, o que vier vai começar a ser o fim" (And after the beginning, whatever comes will start to be the end) — every ending here is already another beginning.
Legião Urbana was a rock band from Brasília, Brazil. They were fronted by the singer and songwriter Renato Russo, whose powerful voice and lyrics were central to their sound. The band became one of the most important groups in Brazilian rock music.
Their music often explored themes of youth, love, and social commentary. They are widely remembered for songs like "Pais e Filhos", "Eduardo e Mônica", and the epic narrative "Faroeste Caboclo". Albums such as Dois and As Quatro Estações remain very popular in Brazil.