Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and song… Read Full Bio ↴Gilberto Gil (born 26 June, 1942) is a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter, and Brazil's former minister of culture.

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.

Lente Do Amor
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pela lente do amor
Uma grande angular
Vejo o lado, acima e atrás
Pela lente do amor
Sou capaz de enxergar
Toda moça e todo rapaz
Pela lente do amor
Vejo tudo crescer

Vejo a vida mil vezes melhor
Pela lente do amor
Até vejo você
Numa estrela da Ursa Maior
Abrir o ângulo, fechar o foco
Sobre a vida
Transcender pela lente do amor
Sair do cético, entrar num
Beco sem saída
Transcender, pela lente do amor
Do amor
Pela lente do amor
Pela lente do amor

Sou capaz de entender
Os detalhes da alma de alguém
Pela lente do amor
Vejo a flor me dizer
Que ainda posso enxergar mais além
Pela lente do amor
Vejo a cor do prazer
Vejo a dor com a cara que tem
Pela lente do amor
Vejo o barco correr
Pelas águas do mal e do bem
Mostrar ao médico, encarar,
Curar sua ferida

Transcender pela lente do amor
Cantar o mântrico
Pegar o kármico na lida

Transcender, pela lente do amor
Do amor

Overall Meaning

In Gilberto Gil's song "Lente Do Amor" (Lens of Love), the singer reflects on the power of love to transform the way we see and experience the world. He sings about the lens of love as a "great angle" that allows us to see beyond the surface level of things and into the depths of our own souls and the souls of others. Through the lens of love, we can see things grow and succeed, and even see ourselves and others as stars shining in the universe.

Gil continues to sing about how love can help us understand other people's souls by seeing into the details, and how it can bring color to pleasure and pain. He then sings about the importance of transcending through the lens of love, through which even the hardest experiences can become opportunities for growth, healing, and even spiritual enlightenment.

Overall, "Lente Do Amor" is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and how it can amplify the most mundane aspects of our lives, leading to deep understanding, growth, and transformation.

Line by Line Meaning

Pela lente do amor
Through the lens of love

Uma grande angular
A wide angle

Vejo o lado, acima e atrás
I see the side, above and behind

Sou capaz de enxergar
I am able to see

Toda moça e todo rapaz
Every girl and every boy

Vejo tudo crescer
I see everything growing

Vejo a vida mil vezes melhor
I see life a thousand times better

Até vejo você
I even see you

Numa estrela da Ursa Maior
In a star of the Big Dipper

Abrir o ângulo, fechar o foco
Open the angle, close the focus

Sobre a vida
About life