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.
Átimo de pó
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O germe e Perseu
O quark e a Via-Láctea
A bactéria e a galáxia
Entre agora e o eon
O íon e Órion
A lua e o magnéton
Entre o glóbulo e o globo blue
Eu, um cosmos em mim só
Um átimo de pó
Assim: do Yang ao Yin
Eu e o nada, nada não
O vasto, vasto vão
Do espaço até o spin
Do sem-fim além de mim
Ao sem-fim aquém de mim
Den de mim
The lyrics of Átimo de Pó by Gilberto Gil begin by exploring the vast differences and similarities that exist between physical entities of varying scales. The small cell of a living organism is compared to the expansive universe, with everything from germs to galaxies being taken into consideration. The contrast between different scales and elements is then extended to time, with the instant and the eon being put side by side. The song then seems to reflect on how all these different pieces of the cosmos can be contained within a single human being, with the singer describing themselves as a universe in one atom of dust - a reflection of the principle of correspondence in metaphysics, which holds that larger structures mirror the same patterns that can be found in smaller structures. The song's final lines are a contemplation of existence beyond the self, recognizing that there are infinite stretches of space and time both before and after one's own limited existence.
The lyrics of Átimo de Pó are highly philosophical in nature, grappling with questions of scale, perspective, and existence itself. This intellectual depth is in keeping with much of Gilberto Gil's music, which is known for its innovative lyricism and incorporation of poetic and philosophical themes. Alongside its intricate wordplay, the song is also remarkable for its use of varied elements of the musical spectrum, blending together acoustic guitar with electronic sounds and ambient effects to create an otherworldly atmosphere. Ultimately, Átimo de Pó can be seen as a reflection on what it means to be human in the midst of a vast and complex universe, highlighting both the limitations and infinite possibilities that come with our smallness.
Line by Line Meaning
Entre a célula e o céu
Between the smallest unit of life and the infinite sky
O germe e Perseu
The seed of life and the mythological hero Perseus
O quark e a Via-Láctea
The subatomic particle quark and the Milky Way galaxy
A bactéria e a galáxia
The microscopic bacteria and the massive galaxy
Entre agora e o eon
Between this moment and an immeasurable amount of time
O íon e Órion
The charged particle ion and the constellation Orion
A lua e o magnéton
The Earth's natural satellite, the moon, and the magnetic particle magneton
Entre a estrela e o elétron
Between the faraway stars and the subatomic particle electron
Entre o glóbulo e o globo blue
Between the blood cell and the blue planet
Eu, um cosmos em mim só
I am a universe within myself
Um átimo de pó
A speck of dust
Assim: do Yang ao Yin
In this way: from light to darkness, from positive to negative
Eu e o nada, nada não
Me and nothingness, which is still something
O vasto, vasto vão
The immense, immense void
Do espaço até o spin
From outer space to the quantum phenomenon of spin
Do sem-fim além de mim
From the endlessness beyond me
Ao sem-fim aquém de mim
To the endlessness within me
Den de mim
Inside of me
Contributed by Dylan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.