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 Moreninha
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tinha uma moreninha
Que toda a tardezinha
Ia com a lata
Na fonte buscar água
Morena, moreninha
Um dia não passou
Que caminho te levou?
Perguntei pela moreninha,
Os passos da moreninha
O caminho que andou
Insisti, com muita espera,
Toda a tarde na janela,
Moreninha não passou
Nunca mais passou
Toda a tarde
Tá faltando uma lata d'água lá na fonte
Toda a tarde
Tá faltando uma lata d'água subindo a rua
Tempo comeu tempo
Anoitou, dia-diou,
Tempo comeu tempo
Anoitou, dia-diou,
Vento soprou vento
E o verão desinvernou
Era tão doce o riso
Da moreninha que eu sou cantor
Era tão doce o riso
Que a moreninha desencantou
E este tempo de hoje em dia
Que te deu assim ao tempo
Não teve tempo pra ver
Que era tempo de te olhar
E de novo
Tempo tempou, dia-diou,
Verão desinvernou
Porta de igreja quem terminou
Dentro, quem começou
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song A Moreninha depict a nostalgic reminiscence of a simpler time in the past, where a young girl would fetch water from the fountain near the singer's home every afternoon. The girl, affectionately referred to as "moreninha" or "little brown one," suddenly disappears one day, leaving the singer wondering what became of her. He searches for her, asking about her whereabouts and retracing her steps until he realizes that time has passed and things have changed.
The lyrics are crafted in a way that highlights the beauty of a lost moment, but also reminds the listeners that time stops for no one. The repetition of "Tempo comeu tempo" ("Time ate time") emphasizes the idea that life continues to move forward, regardless of whether we're ready for it or not. The singer reflects on how the girl's laughter and presence added sweetness to his life, and the fact that he let the moment pass him by without fully appreciating it, which is a common regret that many people might relate to. The final line, "Porta de igreja quem terminou, dentro quem começou" ("The church door who ended, inside who began"), suggests that life is a cycle of endings and beginnings, and that while some things may end, new opportunities for healing and growth can present themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Lá perto de casa
In the vicinity of my house
Tinha uma moreninha
There was a little dark-skinned girl
Que toda a tardezinha
Who every evening
Ia com a lata
Went with a bucket
Na fonte buscar água
To fetch water from the fountain
Morena, moreninha
Dark-skinned girl, little dark-skinned girl
Um dia não passou
One day did not go by
Que caminho te levou?
What path did you take?
Perguntei pela moreninha,
I asked about the girl,
Os passos da moreninha
The steps of the girl
O caminho que andou
The path she took
Insisti, com muita espera,
I persisted, with much waiting
Toda a tarde na janela,
All afternoon at the window
Moreninha não passou
The little dark-skinned girl did not pass by
Nunca mais passou
Never passed by again
Toda a tarde
All afternoon
Tá faltando uma lata d'água lá na fonte
There's a missing bucket of water at the fountain
Toda a tarde
All afternoon
Tá faltando uma lata d'água subindo a rua
A bucket of water is missing while going up the street
Tempo comeu tempo
Time ate time
Anoitou, dia-diou,
Night after night, day after day,
Vento soprou vento
Wind blowing wind
E o verão desinvernou
And summer thawed from winter
Era tão doce o riso
The laughter was so sweet
Da moreninha que eu sou cantor
Of the little dark-skinned girl that I, a singer, am
Que a moreninha desencantou
That the little dark-skinned girl disenchant
E este tempo de hoje em dia
And this present time
Que te deu assim ao tempo
That gave you up to time
Não teve tempo pra ver
Didn't have time to see
Que era tempo de te olhar
That it was time to look at you
E de novo
And again
Tempo tempou, dia-diou,
Time passed, day after day,
Verão desinvernou
Summer thawed from winter
Porta de igreja quem terminou
The church door that ended
Dentro, quem começou
Inside, who began
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Graci Sales
Música de Tom Zé. Haha dois gênios da nossa música brasileira! ❤
Wolfphere Clipes
Essa música tom Zé fez para minha Vó Nete ❤️
Kamila Azevedo
❤️ Gil, faz um dueto cmg algum dia, por favor? Tipo, eu sei que vc pode n ver isso aqui kkk mas não custa tentar né. Sou de PE. Bjo