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.
Imagine
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today (ih-huh)
Imagine there's no countries
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too (eh-eh)
Imagine all the people living life in peace (uh-uh)
You may say I'm a dreamer
(You may say I'm a dreamer)
But I'm not the only one
(But I'm not the only one)
I hope some day you'll join us
(Join us)
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions (no possessions)
I wonder if you can (if you can)
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world (uh-uh)
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
In this song, Gil takes on John Lennon’s classic “Imagine” and brings his own unique spin to the message of the song. “Imagine” is about erasing borders and hatred in the world. Gil complements Lennon’s “Imagine” by emphasizing the idea of living for today and not worrying about the potential of an afterlife or the restrictions religion can impose on us. Gil seems to suggest that many people spend so much time worrying about the afterlife that they forget to live in the present.
The second verse deals with the idea of a world without countries or religion. Gil is advocating for a world without national divides or possessions which can lead to feelings of superiority or inferiority. In this world that Gil envisions, there wouldn’t be anything to kill or die for either, because there would be nothing worth fighting over. He continues by talking about what could be accomplished with such a world, which is essentially a utopia of peace where people all over the world can live and share in the benefits of the world equally.
Gil presents his message in a non-confrontational, simple and melodic way, with a poetic layer of language that particularly emphasizes the “dream” state of things. There’s a lovely bassline that opens this track that eventually evolves into its own melody before returning to the underlying warmth of the main chord progression, it brings a nice sense of growth and upward movement that reinforces the feeling of hope and peace that the lyrics are conveying.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine there's no heaven
If you can imagine a world where there is no heaven, then it will be easy to understand the rest of the song.
It's easy if you try
Gilberto Gil suggests that if people make an effort to comprehend the concept of a world without heaven, it will be effortless.
No hell below us
In this imagined world, there is no place for evil or unhappiness.
Above us only sky
The world of peace and happiness is only a thought away from us.
Imagine all the people living for today
If individuals just focus on present, living in the moment, the world would be a better place.
Imagine there's no countries
If borders didn't exist, the world would be a united place where individuals would not be constrained by their citizenship.
It isn't hard to do
It is not a difficult task to visualize a world without borders.
Nothing to kill or die for
In this world, there is no reason to start wars or fight bloody battles over boundaries because there are none.
And no religion too
Gilberto encourages individuals to imagine a world where religious differences do not exist, where people don't fight over different gods.
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
This line is an invitation for humanity to live in harmony without the issues and differences that cause violence and hate.
You may say I'm a dreamer
Gilberto understands that his ideas might seem like an unattainable dream.
But I'm not the only one
Gilberto believes that other people share his hope for a better world.
I hope some day you'll join us
Gilberto hopes to persuade individuals listening to the song to join him on this quest for a more peaceful existence.
And the world will be as one
If more individuals share Gilberto's vision, the world could eventually be an all-inclusive community.
Imagine no possessions
In this world, people do not feel the need to own anything; material goods hold no value.
I wonder if you can
Gilberto challenges his listeners to perceive a life without personal possession.
No need for greed or hunger
Without material possessions, there would be no greed, and no one would go hungry.
A brotherhood of man
Gilberto envisions the world to be one that promotes unity and harmony among individuals.
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
If resources are distributed equally among people, then everyone can benefit and share in the world's treasures.
You may say I'm a dreamer
Gilberto is aware that he may sound like a person with idealistic ideas that can never be realized.
But I'm not the only one
Gilberto believes that he is not alone with his beliefs.
I hope some day you'll join us
Gilberto urges individuals to work together to accomplish this vision of a united world.
And the world will be as one
If more individuals join this movement of global unity, then the world can truly become a global village where everyone lives in peace and harmony.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Osvaldo Cordeiro Oliveira
Gil, um gênio... ESTÁ AUTORIZADO A IMPROVIZAR COMO QUISER. ELE É UMA AUTORIDADE MUSICAL. TEM UMA MUSICALIDADE QUE EMANA PELA PELE...CONTAGIANTE. Grande Gil, sempre grande dese os Festivais da RECORD.
BrutalTruth1
This, Gilberto Gil's, is the most powerfully touching cover interpretation of John Lennon's 'Imagine' ... I've ever heard ... bar none. - Jack McC
Maria Helena Apolinario
Isso não é música mas sim uma oração. Linda demais.
Celio Pereira Marcuci MarcuciMr
A música de John Lennon atravessa fronteiras, invade a nossa alma e nos inunda de sentimentos de amor, paz e compreensão, tudo que falta no mundo que vive guerreando por mesquinharias, ignorância e motivações religiosas.
Lux - PLContoaConto
Lindo demais. Pura emoção. Gratidão!
Lux - PLContoaConto
Lindo demais. Pura emoção. Gratidão!
Guilherme Kneipp
tudo muito lindo. viva John Lennon e viva Gil!!
Fernando Seixas
Professor Viajou Nessa! e sempre se saindo bem com todo esse carisma e espontaneo Encanta a todos sem pretencao ! Gil Natural Gil ! I Love You! Peace And Love for You God Bless you my Mestre Maior!
Paris Psaros
Love Gil's rendition of Imagine.
DANIEL Q.
Maravilhoso!!!!!!!!!!!! Muito bom..