Mas Que Cão / Infiel

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a deeply conflicted affection for someone labeled "infiel" – unfaithful. The repeated phrase "Mas que cão" (roughly, "What a dog" or "What a bastard") sets a tone of exasperation, yet it’s immediately followed by "mas amado" (but loved) and "mas adorado" (but adored). This juxtaposition creates an immediate tension: the narrator is aware of the person's negative traits, even calling them "malandro" (rogue/trickster), "volúvel" (fickle), and "desleal" (disloyal), but cannot shake their feelings. The central conflict lies in the narrator's awareness of the pain this person causes, admitting "eu também me dei bastante mal" (I also got hurt quite a bit) and acknowledging the uncertainty of their presence: "Não dá pra saber se ele vem" (You can't know if he'll come). This "Zé Ninguém" (nobody) is a "dilema" (dilemma), highlighting the irrationality of holding onto a relationship with someone so unreliable. The narrator knows this person is a "vagabundo" (bum/scoundrel), yet the desire persists. The most striking aspect is the narrator's persistent, almost defiant, desire despite all the evidence of the person's unfaithfulness and the hurt it causes. The declaration "É infiel, mas de primeira" (He's unfaithful, but top-notch/first-rate) is a bizarre endorsement of their negative qualities, suggesting a perverse admiration. This culminates in the repeated, desperate plea, "Quero ao seu lado viver" (I want to live by your side), underscoring the narrator's inability to let go, even when fully aware of the destructive nature of this love. This raw portrayal of loving someone flawed and unreliable, despite knowing better, is what makes these lyrics hit hard. The writing doesn't shy away from the narrator's self-awareness of the bad situation, yet it powerfully captures the magnetic pull of this "infiel" character. The repeated "Mas que cão" acts as both an insult and an endearment, a testament to the complex, often illogical, nature of deep affection.