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.
ó maria
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faz tempo que você sabe
Que eu também sou da Bahia
Ó, Maria
Quantos anos você tinha
Quando o mato era fechado
Lá na estrada da Rainha
Que o batuque se batia?
Ó, Maria
Faz tempo que você sabe
Que eu também sou da Bahia
Ó, Maria
Vê se você me adivinha
Das sete qual é a porta
Pro corredor da Lapinha
De união qual é o traço
Barra-Barris-Barroquinha
Ó, Maria
Faz tempo que você sabe
Que eu também sou da Bahia
In Gilberto Gil's song "Ó Maria," the singer addresses a woman named Maria and emphasizes their shared identity as people from Bahia, Brazil. The lyrics repeat the phrase "faz tempo que você sabe" (it's been a long time that you know) three times, which suggests a familiarity and connection between the two. The singer asks Maria how old she was when the forest was dense and the street of Rainha was open to the sky, indicating a nostalgia and longing for past times in Bahia.
The second verse of the song presents a riddle, as the singer asks Maria to guess which of seven doors is the entrance to the Lapinha corridor, and which of the Barra, Barris, or Barroquinha neighborhoods is the most unifying. Through these questions, the song explores the local geography and culture of Bahia, which also serves to reinforce the shared identity of the singer and Maria as people from that region.
Overall, "Ó Maria" is an ode to the singer's hometown of Bahia, and highlights the special connection between people from that region. Through its lyrics, the song also demonstrates the importance of cultural and geographic identity in shaping a person's sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Ó, Maria
Addressing the person named Maria
Faz tempo que você sabe
It's been a long time that you know
Que eu também sou da Bahia
That I'm also from Bahia
Quantos anos você tinha
How old were you
Quando o mato era fechado
When the forest was dense
Lá na estrada da Rainha
There on the road to Rainha
Quando era a céu aberto
When it was open sky
Que o batuque se batia?
And the drums were playing?
Vê se você me adivinha
See if you can guess
Das sete qual é a porta
Which one of the seven doors
Pro corredor da Lapinha
Leads to the Lapinha hallway
De união qual é o traço
Which line represents unity
Barra-Barris-Barroquinha
Barra-Barris-Barroquinha
Faz tempo que você sabe
It's been a long time that you know
Que eu também sou da Bahia
That I'm also from Bahia
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RONALDO BARCELLOS DA SILVA, LINCOLN OLIVETTI MOREIRA, ROBSON JORGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind