Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and song… Read Full Bio ↴Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter, and Brazil's former minister of culture.

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 Gente Precisa Ver O Luar
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O luar
Do luar não há mais nada a dizer
A não ser
Que a gente precisa ver o luar

O luar
Do luar não há mais nada a dizer
A não ser

Que a gente precisa ver o luar

Que a gente precisa ver para crer
Diz o dito popular
Uma vez que existe só para ser visto
Se a gente não vê, não há

Se a noite inventa a escuridão
A luz inventa o luar
O olho da vida inventa a visão
Doce clarão sobre o mar

Já que existe lua
Vai-se para rua ver
Crer e testemunhar oh uô uô iê iê iê

O luar
Do luar só interessa saber
Onde está
Que a gente precisa ver o luar

O luar
Do luar não há mais nada a dizer
A não ser
Que a gente precisa ver o luar

O luar
Do luar não há mais nada a dizer
A não ser
Que a gente precisa ver o luar

Que a gente precisa ver para crer
Diz o dito popular
Uma vez que existe só para ser visto
Se a gente não vê, não há

Se a noite inventa a escuridão
A luz inventa o luar
O olho da vida inventa a visão
Doce clarão sobre o mar

Já que existe lua
Vai-se para rua ver
Crer e testemunhar oh uô uô iê iê iê

O luar
Do luar só interessa saber
Onde está
Que a gente precisa ver o luar

O luar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's "A Gente Precisa Ver O Luar" (We Need to See the Moonlight) express the idea of the importance of seeing and experiencing certain things to truly understand their beauty and significance. The repetition of "O luar" (The moonlight) emphasizes the idea that there is nothing more to be said about its beauty than the fact that we need to see it. The lyrics suggest that by seeing the moonlight, we not only believe in its existence but also recognize its importance.

The phrase "Que a gente precisa ver para crer" (We need to see to believe) reinforces the idea that things have to be experienced to be understood. The moon exists solely to be seen and appreciated, and if it isn't seen, then it doesn't exist in our perception. The song's message is further conveyed through the lines "Se a noite inventa a escuridão, a luz inventa o luar" (If the night creates darkness, light creates moonlight) and "O olho da vida inventa a visão" (The eye of life invents vision). These lyrics suggest that the beauty of the moonlight is created by the interaction between light and darkness and the power of perception.

The chorus encourages the listener to go out and witness the moonlight for themselves. "Já que existe lua, vai-se para rua ver," (Since the moon exists, go out into the street and see it) invites us to connect with the beauty that surrounds us and to experience it firsthand.

Overall, "A Gente Precisa Ver O Luar" encourages us to recognize the importance of experiencing and appreciating the beauty around us, particularly that of the moonlight. The lyrics convey the idea that true understanding and belief can only come from seeing and experiencing something firsthand.

Line by Line Meaning

O luar
The moon

Do luar não há mais nada a dizer
There is nothing more to be said about the moon

A não ser
Except

Que a gente precisa ver o luar
That we need to see the moon

Que a gente precisa ver para crer
That we need to see to believe, as the saying goes

Diz o dito popular
As the popular saying goes

Uma vez que existe só para ser visto
Because it exists only to be seen

Se a gente não vê, não há
If we don't see it, it doesn't exist

Se a noite inventa a escuridão
If the night creates darkness

A luz inventa o luar
Then the light creates the moon

O olho da vida inventa a visão
The eye of life creates vision