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.
Beira Mar
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
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Não bate o meu coração
O mar onde o céu flutua
Onde morre o sol e a lua
E acaba o caminho do chão
Nasci numa onda verde
Na espuma me batizei
Vim trazido numa rede
Na areia me enterrarei
Ou então nasci na palma
Palha da palma no chão
Tenho a alma de água clara
Meu braço espalhado em praia
Meu braço espalhado em praia
E o mar na palma da mão
No cais, na beira do cais
Senti o meu primeiro amor
E num cais que era só cais
Somente mar ao redor
Somente mar ao redor
Mas o mar não é todo mar
Mar que em todo mundo exista
O melhor, é o mar do mundo
De um certo ponto de vista
De onde só se avista o mar
A ilha de Itaparica
A Bahia é que é o cais
A praia, a beira, a espuma
E a Bahia só tem uma
Costa clara, litoral
Costa clara, litoral
É por isso que é o azul
Cor de minha devoção
Não qualquer azul, azul
De qualquer céu, qualquer dia
O azul de qualquer poesia
De samba tirado em vão
É o azul que a gente fita
No azul do mar da Bahia
É a cor que lá principia
E que habita em meu coração
E que habita em meu coração
The song "Beira mar" by Gilberto Gil is an ode to the sea and the coast of Bahia, Brazil. The lyrics describe the unique relationship between the singer and the sea that surrounds him, and how this connection has shaped his identity as a person. The opening lines of the song, "Na terra em que o mar não bate / Não bate o meu coração" (In the land where the sea doesn't crash / My heart doesn't beat), set the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with vivid imagery of the sea, the sky and the land. The singer describes how he was born in a green wave, baptized in the foam of the sea, and will eventually be buried in the sand.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of the singer's connection to the sea, describing how he feels like he was born in a palm tree and has clear-watered soul. He spreads his arms on the beach while holding the sea in the palm of his hand. The chorus reflects on the idea that not all seas are the same, and that the sea of Bahia is the best from a certain point of view. The final lines of the song refer to the deep blue color of the Bahia sea, which the singer recognizes as the true color of his devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Na terra em que o mar não bate
In a land where the sea does not hit
Não bate o meu coração
My heart does not beat
O mar onde o céu flutua
The sea where the sky floats
Onde morre o sol e a lua
Where the sun and moon die
E acaba o caminho do chão
And the path of the earth ends
Nasci numa onda verde
I was born on a green wave
Na espuma me batizei
I was baptized in the foam
Vim trazido numa rede
I came carried in a net
Na areia me enterrarei
I will bury myself in the sand
Ou então nasci na palma
Or maybe I was born on a palm
Palha da palma no chão
The palm frond on the ground
Tenho a alma de água clara
I have the soul of clear water
Meu braço espalhado em praia
My arm spread out on the beach
E o mar na palma da mão
And the sea in the palm of my hand
No cais, na beira do cais
At the pier, at the edge of the pier
Senti o meu primeiro amor
I felt my first love
E num cais que era só cais
And at a pier that was just a pier
Somente mar ao redor
Only sea around
Mas o mar não é todo mar
But the sea is not all sea
Mar que em todo mundo exista
A sea that exists in the whole world
O melhor, é o mar do mundo
The best is the sea of the world
De um certo ponto de vista
From a certain point of view
De onde só se avista o mar
Where only the sea is visible
A ilha de Itaparica
The island of Itaparica
A Bahia é que é o cais
Bahia is the pier
A praia, a beira, a espuma
The beach, the edge, the foam
E a Bahia só tem uma
And Bahia has only one
Costa clara, litoral
Clear coast, shoreline
É por isso que é o azul
That is why it is blue
Cor de minha devoção
The color of my devotion
Não qualquer azul, azul
Not just any blue, blue
De qualquer céu, qualquer dia
From any sky, any day
O azul de qualquer poesia
The blue of any poetry
De samba tirado em vão
From samba played in vain
É o azul que a gente fita
It is the blue that we gaze at
No azul do mar da Bahia
In the blue of the sea of Bahia
É a cor que lá principia
It is the color that begins there
E que habita em meu coração
And that lives in my heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind