He began his career as a bossa nova musician, but soon began writing songs that reflected a new focus on political awareness and social activism, along with fellow singer Caetano Veloso. In the 1970s, Gil added new elements of African and North American music to his already broad palette, and continued to release a steady stream of albums, including Realce and Refazenda. João Gilberto recorded Gil's "Eu Vim da Bahia" ("I Came from Bahia") on his classic João Gilberto LP.
In 1969, Gil and Veloso, whose status in Brazil was, and is, equivalent to that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the English-speaking world, were arrested by the military government of Brazil for anti-government activities. Upon their release, the pair both moved to London. Gil began playing with groups like Yes, Pink Floyd and The Incredible String Band, while continuing his solo career. In the 1970s, he toured the US and recorded an English-language album. He worked with Jimmy Cliff and released in 1980 a cover of "No Woman, No Cry" (Bob Marley & the Wailers) that was a massive hit and introduced reggae to Brazil.
Gil continued recording, performing and involving himself in various social causes, and was eventually elected a city councillor in his home town Salvador in 1989. His 1993 album with Caetano Veloso, Tropicália 2, featured a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song, "Wait Until Tomorrow", and is regarded as one of his finest efforts since the late 1960s.
When President Lula da Silva took office in January 2003, he chose Gil to serve as Brazil's new Minister of Culture, a post he held until 2008. While minister, Gil released his songs "Refazenda", "Rebento" and "Refavela" under the Creative Commons Sampling License.
In May 2005 Gil was awarded the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm, Sweden. He was the first Latin American recipient of the annual award, which was given to him by the King of Sweden. Gil also performed four songs in an outdoors concert the day before the award show and again at the show with only two songs, accompanied by Jimmy Cliff.
In September 2005 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur from the French Government. This coincided with the Année du Brésil en France (Brazil's Year in France).
His daughter Preta Gil is also a musician.
Água de meninos
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Entre o mar e a poesia
Tem um porto, Salvador
As ladeiras da cidade
Descem das nuvens pro mar
E num tempo que passou ô ô ô
Toda a cidade descia
Vinha pra feira comprar
Água de Meninos, quero morar
Quero rede e tangerina
Quero o peixe desse mar
Quero o vento dessa praia
Quero azul, quero ficar
Com a moça que chegou
Vestida de rendas, ô
Vinda de Taperoá
Por cima da feira, as nuvens
Atrás da feira, a cidade
Na frente da feira o mar
Atrás do mar, a marinha
Atrás da marinha, o moinho
Atrás do moinho o governo
Que quis a feira acabar
Por cima da feira, as nuvens
Atrás da feira, a cidade
Na frente da feira o mar
Atrás do mar, a marinha
Atrás da marinha, o moinho
Atrás do moinho o governo
Que quis a feira acabar
Dentro da feira, o povo
Dentro do povo, a moça
Dentro da moça, a noiva
Vestida de rendas, ô
Abre a roda pra sambar
Moinho da Bahia queimou
Queimou, deixa queimas
Abre a roda pra sambar
A feira nem bem sabia
Se ía pro mar ou subia
E nem o povo queria
Escolher outro lugar
Enquanto a feira não via
A hora de se mudar
Tocaram fogo na feira
Ai, me dia, mi'a sinhá
Pra onde correu o povo
Pra onde correu a moça
Vinda de Taperoá?
Água de Meninos chorou
Caranguejo correu pra lama
Saveiro ficou na costa
A moringa rebentou
Dos olhos do barraqueiro
Muita água derramou
Água de Meninos acabou
Quem ficou foi a saudade
Da noiva dentro da moça
Vinda de Itaperoá
Vestida de rendas, ô
Abre a roda pra sambar
Moinho da Bahia queimou
Queimou, deixa queimar
Abre a roda pra sambar
Pra sambar, pra sambar
The song "Agua De Meninos" by Gilberto Gil is a tribute to the city where he was born, Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. The song begins by describing Salvador with the sea and poetry all around, and it specifically mentions the port of Salvador, which is an important historical and cultural landmark in the city. Salvador's hills descend towards the ocean, and the lyrics depict how this town once gathered together to go shopping in its marketplace.
The next part of the song focuses on a neighborhood in Salvador called Agua De Meninos. This neighborhood was once known for its rampant poverty and bad living conditions, but Gil chooses to remember the good things about it, such as the fresh fish from the sea and the gentle breeze blowing off the beach. The lyrics talk about a woman from Taperoá dressed in lace, indicating a longing for romance and companionship. The lyrics then shift their focus to the city's marketplace, where the citizens and the girl engage in dancing.
The final verse, however, takes a dark turn. The marketplace was burned down, and the lyrics talk about the aftermath of the disaster, with the locals running around and trying to find a new place to call home. Finally, the song ends on a note of melancholy and loss, with the suggestion that all that remains is the memory of the girl from Taperoá, dressed in lace and dancing to the samba.
Line by Line Meaning
Na minha terra, a Bahia
In my land, Bahia
Entre o mar e a poesia
Between the sea and poetry
Tem um porto, Salvador
There is a port, Salvador
As ladeiras da cidade
The city's slopes
Descem das nuvens pro mar
Descend from the clouds to the sea
E num tempo que passou ô ô ô
And in a time that passed
Toda a cidade descia
The whole city would come down
Vinha pra feira comprar
To buy at the market
Água de Meninos, quero morar
Water of Meninos, I want to live there
Quero rede e tangerina
I want a hammock and tangerine
Quero o peixe desse mar
I want the fish from this sea
Quero o vento dessa praia
I want the wind from this beach
Quero azul, quero ficar
I want blue, I want to stay
Com a moça que chegou
With the girl who arrived
Vestida de rendas, ô
Dressed in lace
Vinda de Taperoá
Coming from Taperoá
Por cima da feira, as nuvens
Above the market, the clouds
Atrás da feira, a cidade
Behind the market, the city
Na frente da feira o mar
In front of the market, the sea
Atrás do mar, a marinha
Behind the sea, the navy
Atrás da marinha, o moinho
Behind the navy, the mill
Atrás do moinho o governo
Behind the mill, the government
Que quis a feira acabar
Who wanted to end the market
Dentro da feira, o povo
Inside the market, the people
Dentro do povo, a moça
Inside the people, the girl
Dentro da moça, a noiva
Inside the girl, the bride
Abre a roda pra sambar
Open the circle to dance samba
Moinho da Bahia queimou
The mill of Bahia burned
Queimou, deixa queimas
Burned, let it burn
Água de Meninos chorou
Water of Meninos cried
Caranguejo correu pra lama
Crab ran to the mud
Saveiro ficou na costa
Boat remained on the coast
A moringa rebentou
The water jug burst
Dos olhos do barraqueiro
From the eyes of the street vendor
Muita água derramou
A lot of water spilled
Água de Meninos acabou
Water of Meninos ended
Quem ficou foi a saudade
What remained was the longing
Da noiva dentro da moça
Of the bride inside the girl
Vinda de Itaperoá
Coming from Itaperoá
Abre a roda pra sambar
Open the circle to dance samba
Pra sambar, pra sambar
To dance samba, to dance samba
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Capinani, Gilberto Gil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maiethebarros4616
Que maravilha de canção! Traz paz ao coração
@tibiricadacosta1207
Gil começando sua caminhada com aquelas canções inesquecíveis.
Tempo passa e vida segue.
@will.c.7724
Estive hoje em em Águas de Menino e me apaixonei!
@dinorasantoscoelho6429
Gente amo essa musica ,me traz boas lembranças ano 1970 ou 71 em Salvador Acho essa a melhor composiçao do Gil mas esteve esquecida por muitos anos.Hoje eh a primeira vez que a ouço aqui no youtube Muito linda !!!!
@augustoalves1903
A genialidade de Gilberto Gil concentrada numa canção de arrepiar.
@elietenegreiros7595
Letra de Capinan
@isabelaoliveira9270
Lindíssima canção. Achei por acaso quando decidi procurar mais sobre a história da feira de Água de Meninos depois de ter visto o filme "A grande feira" do baiano Roberto Pires
@lenitapinheiro386
Lindo demais!!😍👏🏻🎶👏🏻🎶👏🏻🎶
@gilmariosantos4196
Nasci e me criei em Água de meninos
@gabrieleealmeida
lindoooooooooooo