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.
Buda Nagô
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Dorival é ímpar
Dorival é par
Dorival é terra
Dorival tá no pé
Dorival tá na mão
Dorival tá no céu
Dorival tá no chão
Dorival é belo
Dorival é bom
Dorival é tudo
Que estiver no tom
Dorival vai cantar
Dorival em CD
Dorival vai sambar
Dorival na TV
Dorival é um Buda nagô
Filho da casa real da inspiração
Como príncipe, principiou
A nova idade de ouro da canção
Mas um dia Xangô
Deu-lhe a iluminação
Lá na beira do mar (foi?)
Na praia de Armação (foi não)
Lá no Jardim de Alá (foi?)
Lá no alto sertão (foi não)
Lá na mesa de um bar (foi?)
Dentro do coração
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Dorival é Eva
Dorival Adão
Dorival é lima
Dorival é limão
Aaah, Dorival é mãe
Dorival é o pai
Dorival é o peão
Balança, mas não cai
Dorival é um monge chinês
Nascido na Roma negra, Salvador
Se é que ele fez fortuna, ele a fez
Apostando tudo na carta do amor
Ases, damas e reis
Ele teve e passou (iaiá)
Teve o mundo aos seus pés (ioiô)
Ele viu, nem ligou (iaiá)
Seguidores fiéis (ioiô)
E ele se adiantou (iaiá)
Só levou seus pincéis (ioiô)
A viola e uma flor
Dorival é índio
Desse que anda nu (desse que anda nu)
Que bebe garapa
Que come biju (que come biju)
Dorival no Japão
Dorival samurai
Dorival é a nação
Balança mais não cai
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Dorival
Dorival (bebe caraça)
Dorival (come biju)
Dorival
(Mãe-mãe-mãe-mãma-ô)
(Pai-pa no-nagôdo, papaiô)
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song 'Buda Nagô' are an ode to the genius and versatility of Dorival Caymmi, a Brazilian singer and songwriter. The repeated verses 'Lalalaiálalalaiá' and 'Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá' can be interpreted as a chant celebrating the greatness of Dorival. The subsequent verses highlight the many roles he played in music - he was both odd and even, earth and sea; he is in everything that is in tune. The song speaks of Dorival as an important figure in Brazilian music history, describing him as a Buda nagô (referring to his Afro-Brazilian spiritual practice), a member of a royal house of inspiration and a prince who started a new golden era of music.
The song also references Dorival's enlightenment, which was bestowed upon him by Xangô, a powerful orisha in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé. The location of this enlightenment is ambiguous, with each stanza listing a different place, from a beach to a bar to a garden. The final verse declares that Dorival is like an Indigenous Brazilian, walking naked and consuming the simplest of things, such as garapa and biju. The song ends with a riff on Dorival's name, with various descriptions of his multifaceted identity.
Overall, 'Buda Nagô' is a tribute to a legendary Brazilian artist who had a profound influence on the country's music scene. The song celebrates his versatility and spiritual depth, positioning him as a figure of great cultural importance.
Line by Line Meaning
Lalalaiálalalaiá
The song starts with a wordless call, creating a lively, joyful atmosphere right from the beginning.
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Repetition of the wordless call with slight variation to emphasize the cheerful rhythm.
Lalalaiálalalaiá
Repetition of the wordless call to extend the musical theme and keep the energetic vibe.
Lá-lalaiálalaiálaiá
Repetition of the wordless call with slight variation to maintain excitement.
Dorival é ímpar
Dorival is unique, one-of-a-kind.
Dorival é par
Dorival is balanced, harmonious.
Dorival é terra
Dorival is earth, grounded and connected to nature.
Dorival é mar
Dorival is sea, fluid and mysterious.
Dorival tá no pé
Dorival is in your feet, making you dance and move.
Dorival tá na mão
Dorival is in your hands, making you play and create music.
Dorival tá no céu
Dorival is in the sky, inspiring and uplifting.
Dorival tá no chão
Dorival is on the ground, practical and realistic.
Dorival é belo
Dorival is beautiful, aesthetically pleasing.
Dorival é bom
Dorival is good, morally upright.
Dorival é tudo
Dorival is everything, encompassing all qualities.
Que estiver no tom
Whoever is aligned with the right rhythm and melody.
Dorival vai cantar
Dorival will sing, expressing himself through music.
Dorival em CD
Dorival will record his music on CD, for wider distribution.
Dorival vai sambar
Dorival will dance samba, a joyful and festive dance style.
Dorival na TV
Dorival will appear on TV, reaching a larger audience.
Dorival é um Buda nagô
Dorival is a nagô Buddha, an enlightened being with African roots.
Filho da casa real da inspiração
Son of the royal house of inspiration, a gifted and influential songwriter.
Como príncipe, principiou
Like a prince, he started the new golden age of Brazilian music.
A nova idade de ouro da canção
The new golden age of music.
Mas um dia Xangô
One day, Xangô, a deity associated with thunder, lightning, and justice.
Deu-lhe a iluminação
Gave him enlightenment, a revelation that changed his perspective on life.
Lá na beira do mar (foi?)
Maybe by the seaside, contemplating the infinity and power of nature.
Na praia de Armação (foi não)
Not really, just a guess.
Lá no Jardim de Alá (foi?)
Maybe a poetic reference to the spiritual realm.
Lá no alto sertão (foi não)
Another guess, but could refer to a mystical place in the heart of Brazil.
Lá na mesa de um bar (foi?)
Perhaps a more mundane place, where one can have deep conversations with friends over drinks.
Dentro do coração
Ultimately, the enlightenment comes from within.
Dorival é Eva
Dorival is Eve, the mother of humanity.
Dorival Adão
Dorival is Adam, the father of humanity.
Dorival é lima
Dorival is lime, sour but refreshing.
Dorival é limão
Dorival is lemon, acidic but versatile.
Aaah, Dorival é mãe
Dorival is a mother, nurturing and caring.
Dorival é o pai
Dorival is a father, authoritative and protective.
Dorival é o peão
Dorival is the worker, persevering and humble.
Balança, mas não cai
Steady and resilient, not easily defeated.
Dorival é um monge chinês
Dorival is a Chinese monk, wise and disciplined.
Nascido na Roma negra, Salvador
Born in the black Rome, Salvador, a city with a rich cultural mix.
Se é que ele fez fortuna, ele a fez
If he ever made a fortune, he made it himself, through his own hard work and talent.
Apostando tudo na carta do amor
By betting everything on the card of love, taking risks for the sake of passion.
Ases, damas e reis
Playing cards, a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of life and love.
Ele teve e passou (iaiá)
He had some experiences, but they are gone now.
Teve o mundo aos seus pés (ioiô)
He had the world at his feet, powerful and influential.
Ele viu, nem ligou (iaiá)
He saw some things, but didn't care much.
Seguidores fiéis (ioiô)
He had loyal followers, who admired and respected him.
E ele se adiantou (iaiá)
He moved forward, not content with the past.
Só levou seus pincéis (ioiô)
He only took his paintbrushes, or perhaps his tools for creating music, implying his focus on artistic expression.
A viola e uma flor
A poetic image of simplicity and beauty, suggesting that he values these over material possessions.
Dorival é índio
Dorival is an indigenous person, in touch with his roots and traditions.
Desse que anda nu (desse que anda nu)
The kind who walks naked, embodying a simple and natural way of living.
Que bebe garapa
Who drinks garapa, a sweet juice made from sugarcane.
Que come biju (que come biju)
Who eats biju, a traditional snack made from cassava.
Dorival no Japão
Dorival in Japan, showing his cultural versatility.
Dorival samurai
Dorival as a samurai, a symbol of honor and courage.
Dorival é a nação
Dorival is the nation, representing the diverse and vibrant culture of Brazil.
Balança mais não cai
Steady and resilient, not easily defeated.
Mãe-mãe-mãe-mãma-ô
A playful repetition of sounds, perhaps expressing joy or anticipation.
Pai-pa no-nagôdo, papaiô
Another playful repetition of sounds, with possible roots in African or Afro-Brazilian music culture.
Writer(s): Gilberto Gil
Contributed by Alexandra C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.