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 Eternidade da Alma
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
é de natureza eterna. Ninguém pode destruir a nossa alma imperecível.
Só o corpo material certamente morrerá,
mas a entidade viva é eterna, sem dimensão
e também indestrutível.
Lute, pois, com convicção, ó descendente de Bhárata.
não há fogo que a queime;
a água não pode molhá-la nem pode o vento secá-la.
A quem nasce a morte é certa;
quem morre tem que nascer; por isso, no inevitável cumprimento do dever,
não há por que lamentar.
Não lamente pelo corpo não, Ó descendente de Bhárata!
In "A Eternidade da Alma," Gilberto Gil sings about the immortality of the soul. He speaks of the eternal nature of the force that gives life to our bodies, and how it is impossible for anyone to destroy our imperishable souls. He then goes on to say that physical bodies will inevitably die, but the entity that enlivens them is eternal, without dimension and indestructible. The song draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most significant texts in Hinduism. The song includes a verse in Sanskrit and is reminiscent of the Hindu beliefs of reincarnation, karma, and the immortality of the soul.
Gil urges the listener to fight with conviction, citing the Bhagavad Gita's instruction to Arjuna to fight and fulfill his duty. He declares that no weapon can harm the soul, and it is impossible for fire, water, or wind to affect it. The lyrics recognize the inevitability of death and rebirth, emphasizing that those who are born are guaranteed to die and those who die will inevitably be reborn. Therefore, there is no reason to mourn the fulfillment of one's duty.
Overall, the song's message is about embracing the everlasting force of the soul and finding comfort in it, even in the face of our physical bodies' impermanence. It is a beautiful and insightful reflection on Hindu philosophy, and Gilberto Gil's moving lyrics and melodies capture its essence perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
Aquilo que pelo corpo se espalha, dando-lhe vida, é de natureza eterna.
The force that gives life to the body is eternal and will never be destroyed.
Ninguém pode destruir a nossa alma imperecível.
No one can destroy our immortal soul.
Só o corpo material certamente morrerá, mas a entidade viva é eterna, sem dimensão e também indestrutível.
Only the physical body will die, but the living entity is eternal, dimensionless and also indestructible.
Lute, pois, com convicção, ó descendente de Bhárata.
Fight, then, with conviction, O descendant of Bharata.
Ninguém pode ferir a alma com nenhuma espécie de arma; não há fogo que a queime; a água não pode molhá-la nem pode o vento secá-la.
No weapon can harm the soul; fire cannot burn it; water cannot wet it; nor can the wind dry it.
A quem nasce a morte é certa; quem morre tem que nascer; por isso, no inevitável cumprimento do dever, não há por que lamentar.
For those who are born, death is certain; and for those who die, rebirth is inevitable. Therefore, in the fulfillment of duty, there is no cause for lamentation.
Não lamente pelo corpo não, Ó descendente de Bhárata!
Do not grieve for the body, O descendant of Bharata!
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.