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.
A Ciência Em Si
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se toda coincidência
Tende a que se entenda
E toda lenda
Quer chegar aqui
A ciência não se aprende
A ciência apreende
Se toda estrela cadente
Cai pra fazer sentido
E todo mito
Quer ter carne aqui
A ciência não se ensina
A ciência insemina
A ciência em si
Se o que se pode ver, ouvir, pegar, medir, pesar
Do avião a jato ao jaboti
Desperta o que ainda não, não se pôde pensar
Do sono do eterno ao eterno devir
Como a órbita da terra abraça o vácuo devagar
Para alcançar o que já estava aqui
Se a crença quer se materializar
Tanto quanto a experiência quer se abstrair
A ciência não avança
A ciência alcança
A ciência em si
In "A Ciência Em Si," Gilberto Gil and Arnaldo Antunes suggest that scientific knowledge is not something that can be easily taught, but rather something that is unconsciously absorbed through exposure to the world around us. They argue that all coincidences and legends have an underlying meaning, and that science is the process of understanding and uncovering that meaning. The lyrics suggest that stars falling from the sky and myths seeking manifestation in the physical world are all part of the same process of understanding the universe.
The lyrics also highlight the ways in which science both transcends and intersects with personal beliefs and experiences. The song acknowledges the limitations of what can be perceived through the senses and measured quantitatively, as well as the potential for scientific discovery to shape and expand our understanding of the world. Ultimately, the song suggests that science is not just a system of knowledge, but a fundamental aspect of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Se toda coincidência Tende a que se entenda
If every coincidence tends to be understood
E toda lenda Quer chegar aqui
And every legend wants to come here
A ciência não se aprende A ciência apreende A ciência em si
Science is not learned, it is apprehended, science in itself
Se toda estrela cadente Cai pra fazer sentido
If every shooting star falls to make sense
E todo mito Quer ter carne aqui
And every myth wants flesh here
A ciência não se ensina A ciência insemina A ciência em si
Science is not taught, it proliferates, science in itself
Se o que se pode ver, ouvir, pegar, medir, pesar Do avião a jato ao jaboti
If what can be seen, heard, touched, measured, weighed From jet airplanes to turtles
Desperta o que ainda não, não se pôde pensar Do sono do eterno ao eterno devir
Awakens what has not yet, could not be thought Of the sleep of eternity to the eternal becoming
Como a órbita da terra abraça o vácuo devagar Para alcançar o que já estava aqui
Like the orbit of the earth slowly embraces the void To reach what was already here
Se a crença quer se materializar Tanto quanto a experiência quer se abstrair
If belief wants to materialize As much as experience wants to abstract
A ciência não avança A ciência alcança A ciência em si
Science does not advance, science reaches, science in itself
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.