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.
Ela
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ela estava em silêncio e eu estava em silêncio
Eu sentia o corpo dela junto ao meu
Os dois seios, o ventre, as pernas
E os seus braços me envolviam
Eu pensei que ela deveria sentir o calor
Que eu estava sentindo
Eu não me recordo quanto tempo
Mas nós estávamos abraçados e encostados ali há muito tempo
Eu não me recordava se eram horas, dias, meses
Nós dois esquecemos naquele momento
Que nós dois pretendíamos a paz
Dentro da violência do mundo
E sem perceber a chegada da paz
Nós dois estávamos alojados dentro dela
E sem perceber a chegada da paz
Nós dois estávamos alojados dentro dela
E sem perceber a chegada da paz
Nós dois estávamos alojados dentro dela
Nós não saímos da parede e a paz Nos encontrou subitamente
Não enviou nenhum sinal
E nós não procuramos a paz
The song "Ela" by Gilberto Gil is a beautiful tribute to a woman who is the singer's everything. The song can be interpreted as an ode to a lover or a wife who is a constant source of inspiration and support. The lyrics describe the singer's deep attachment to this woman, who is his "musa única," or unique muse. He lives for her every moment of the day, and she is the one who guides him through the rough sea of life. The singer compares his love to a lighthouse, a beacon of light that guides ships through perilous waters, and without her, he would be lost. The repetition of "Ela" in the chorus emphasizes the centrality of this woman in the singer's life and the depth of his love for her. Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and the melody is equally moving, with its hypnotic rhythm and soulful guitar accompaniment.
Line by Line Meaning
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo com ela
I am constantly living with her
Ela
The woman (she)
Vivo o tempo todo pra ela
I am constantly living for her
Minha música
My music
Musa única, mulher
Unique muse, woman
Mãe dos meus filhos, ilhas de amor
Mother of my children, islands of love
Cada ilha, um farol
Each island, a lighthouse
No mar da procela, ela
In the rough sea, she
Ela, ela que me faz um navegador
She, she who makes me a navigator
E sobretudo ela
And above all, she
Oh o ela, ela que me faz um navegador
Oh, she, she who makes me a navigator
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo com ela
I am constantly living with her
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo pra ela
I am constantly living for her
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo pra ela
I am constantly living for her
Vivo o tempo todo pra ela
I am constantly living for her
Minha música
My music
Musa única, mulher
Unique muse, woman
Mulher, mãe dos meus filhos, ilhas de amor
Woman, mother of my children, islands of love
Cada ilha, um farol
Each island, a lighthouse
No mar, no mar da procela, ela
In the sea, in the rough sea, she
Ela, ela que me faz um navegador
She, she who makes me a navigator
Oh o ela, ela que me faz um navegador
Oh, she, she who makes me a navigator
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo com ela
I am constantly living with her
Ela
The woman (she)
Eu vivo o tempo todo pra ela
I am constantly living for her
E sobretudo ela
And above all, she
Ela que me faz um navegador
She who makes me a navigator
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira, Jose Agripino De Paula
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind