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.

Aprendi Com o Rei
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Onde quer que esteja
O fole de oito baixo
Zabumbeiro, um terreiro
Forrozeiro, opa! Ói eu no meio
Tô eu lá pelo meio
Pode ver que eu tô no meio
Não posso fazer feio, não, não
Isso eu aprendi com o rei!

Numa beira de estrada
Uma casa varandada
Tapera mal caiada
Um ranchinho de esteio
Tô eu lá pelo meio
Pode ver que eu tô no meio
Não posso fazer feio, não, não
Isso eu aprendi com o rei

Sanfoneiro que se preza é assim
Pra tocar não ha lugar bom ou ruim
Se não tem cota, a gente leva na lorota
Mas um dinheiro sempre ajuda, companheiro
Opa! Vai deixando o meu aí
Ó! É dois pra lá e dois pra aqui

Opa! Dá licença, eu vou ali
Obrigado, tenho pressa, tenho forró no Cariri

Overall Meaning

In the song "Aprendi Com o Rei," Gilberto Gil sings about his experiences as a forrozeiro, a musician who plays traditional Brazilian music called forró. He describes being in the middle of the action, playing his instrument, and being a part of the community. He also talks about the importance of learning from others, specifically mentioning "o rei," or "the king," who is likely a reference to Luiz Gonzaga, a legendary forró musician who had a strong influence on Gil's own music.

Throughout the song, Gil emphasizes the importance of being humble and not making mistakes. He knows that as a forrozeiro, he needs to be able to play in any setting, whether it's a big stage or a small, improvised one. He also acknowledges the importance of money in the music business, but reminds his fellow musicians to stay true to their roots and not lose sight of the joy of playing forró.

Line by Line Meaning

Onde quer que esteja
No matter where I go

O fole de oito baixo
The eight bass accordion

Zabumbeiro, um terreiro
With a drummer, in a courtyard

Forrozeiro, opa! Ói eu no meio
Playing forró music, hey! Look at me in the middle

Tô eu lá pelo meio
I'm there in the middle

Pode ver que eu tô no meio
You can see I'm in the middle

Não posso fazer feio, não, não
I can't mess up, no, no

Isso eu aprendi com o rei!
I learned that from the king!

Numa beira de estrada
On the side of the road

Uma casa varandada
A house with a porch

Tapera mal caiada
Poorly whitewashed walls