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.
Eu Vim da Bahia
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eu vim da Bahia cantar
Eu vim da Bahia contar
Tanta coisa bonita que tem
Na Bahia, que é meu lugar
Tem meu chão, tem meu céu, tem meu mar
A Bahia que vive pra dizer
Como é que se faz pra viver
Mas de fome não morre
Porque na Bahia tem mãe Iemanjá
De outro lado o Senhor do Bonfim
Que ajuda o baiano a viver
Pra cantar, pra sambar pra valer
Pra morrer de alegria
Na festa de rua
No samba de roda
Na noite de lua
No canto do mar
Eu vim da Bahia
Mas eu volto pra lá
Eu vim da Bahia
Mas algum dia eu volto pra lá
In Gilberto Gil's song, Eu Vim da Bahia, the singer talks about his love for the Brazilian state of Bahia, where he was born and raised. He sings about the beautiful things that the place has to offer, such as the land, sea, and sky. Despite the poverty in the region where people often have nothing to eat, they don't die of hunger, since they believe in the power of the sea goddess, Iemanjá, and the Lord of Good Death, Bonfim, to help them get by.
He praises the people of Bahia for their love for music, dance, and celebration. He mentions their famous samba and street parties, their singing and dancing by the sea, and their fun nights under the moonlight. He sings about how he left Bahia to sing and share its story with the rest of the world, but one day he'll go back to where he belongs.
Overall, this song is a beautiful tribute to a place that has shaped the identity of Gilberto Gil and millions of others who call Bahia home. It evokes the resilience and joy of a community that has learned to celebrate life's simple pleasures despite the hardships they face.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu vim
I arrived
Eu vim da Bahia cantar
I arrived from Bahia to sing
Eu vim da Bahia contar
I arrived from Bahia to tell
Tanta coisa bonita que tem
There are so many beautiful things
Na Bahia, que é meu lugar
In Bahia, which is my place
Tem meu chão, tem meu céu, tem meu mar
It has my land, my sky, my sea
A Bahia que vive pra dizer
Bahia lives to say
Como é que se faz pra viver
How to live
Onde a gente não tem pra comer
Where people don't have food
Mas de fome não morre
But they don't die of hunger
Porque na Bahia tem mãe Iemanjá
Because in Bahia there is mother Iemanjá
De outro lado o Senhor do Bonfim
On the other side is Lord of Bonfim
Que ajuda o baiano a viver
Who helps the bahian to live
Pra cantar, pra sambar pra valer
To sing, to really samba
Pra morrer de alegria
To die of happiness
Na festa de rua
At the street party
No samba de roda
In the samba circle
Na noite de lua
In the night with moonlight
No canto do mar
In the song of the sea
Eu vim da Bahia
I arrived from Bahia
Mas eu volto pra lá
But I'll go back there
Eu vim da Bahia
I arrived from Bahia
Mas algum dia eu volto pra lá
But one day I'll go back there
Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marilg93
Eu não vim da Bahia, mas adoro essa música. Rs
Grego Filho
Tudo veio da Bahia,Samba, Bossa Nova do gênio dos gênios João Gilberto,Trio elétrico, Rock brasileiro do Raul Seixas, Gal Costa, Bethania,Poesia de Castro Alves e Caetano Veloso,i canto do mar de Caymi
Faby maciel
Minha inspiração passe anos sempre será ! 🧡
Joyce Alvarenga
João Gilberto e Gilberto Gil são os melhores cantando essa música. incrível
Beatriz Cerveira
Ave! Mestre Gil. Nostalgia boa.
💓👏👏👏
Maria Madalena
Magnificamente
Gil Gilberto Gil
TIM LIMA - CANTOR E COMPOSITOR OFICIAL
GILBERTO GIL É TOP, É GENIAL!!! PARABÉNS!!! FELICIDADES!!! JESUS CRISTO (O PRÍNCIPE DA PAZ E DA LIBERDADE) AMA VOCÊS!!! SAÚDE, SAÚDE, SAÚDE, FÉ, FÉ, FÉ, PAZ, PAZ, PAZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Erin Newby
Absolutely wonderful
Anna Lyman
Tao maravilhosa
luigi marques souza
Eu vim da Bahia, mas algum dia eu volto pra lá