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.
Não Chore Mais
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
Bem que eu me lembro
Da gente sentado ali
Na grama do aterro, sob o sol
Disfarçados, rondando ao redor
Amigos presos
Amigos sumindo assim
Pra nunca mais
Tais recordações
Retratos do mal em si
Melhor é deixar pra trás
Não, não chore mais
Não, não chore mais oh oh
Não, não chore mais oh oh oh oh oh
Não, não chore mais hê hê
Bem que eu me lembro
Da gente sentava ali
Na grama do aterro, sob o céu
Ob-observando estrelas
Junto à fogueirinha de papel
Quentar o frio
Requentar o pão
E comer com você
Os pés, de manhã, pisar o chão
Eu sei a barra de viver
Mas, se deus quiser
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry uh uh uh
Não, não chore mais
Menina não chore assim
Não, não chore mais oh oh oh
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
(No woman, no cry)
Não, não chore mais
Não chore assim
Não, não chore mais hê hê
No woman, no cry
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song "Não Chore Mais" talks about memories of good times spent with friends in a park, possibly during a period of political oppression in Brazil. The opening lines, "No woman, no cry" are repeated throughout the song and can be interpreted as an encouragement to not shed tears over past struggles and to move forward towards a better future. The first verse describes observing the hypocrisy of the oppressors who constantly lurked in the vicinity. It also talks about friends who have been imprisoned or disappeared, and the memories that those events have left behind. The line "Retratos do mal em si" encapsulates the negative impact of these events.
The chorus "Não, não chore mais" is a reassuring line that is meant to lift the listener's spirits. The second verse speaks about the simplicity of joyous times spent with friends around a fire. The line "Eu sei a barra de viver" conveys the difficulties of living during unstable times, but also expresses a belief in the possibility of a better future. The chorus repeats, along with an additional line "Menina não chore assim" which translates to "girl, don't cry like that" and emphasizes the need to stay strong in the face of adversity. The song ends with a final repetition of "No woman, no cry".
Overall, the lyrics of "Não Chore Mais" are a reflection of the struggles faced by the Brazilian people during times of oppression and political turmoil, but also a call for resilience and hope in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
Bem que eu me lembro
I remember well
Da gente sentado ali
Us sitting there
Na grama do aterro, sob o sol
On the grass, under the sun
Ob-observando hipócritas
Observing hypocrites
Disfarçados, rondando ao redor
Disguised, lurking around
Amigos presos
Friends in jail
Amigos sumindo assim
Friends disappearing like that
Pra nunca mais
Never to be seen again
Tais recordações
Such memories
Retratos do mal em si
Pictures of evil itself
Melhor é deixar pra trás
It's better to leave it behind
Não, não chore mais
No, don't cry anymore
Não, não chore mais oh oh
No, don't cry anymore
Não, não chore mais oh oh oh oh oh
No, don't cry anymore
Não, não chore mais hê hê
No, don't cry anymore
Bem que eu me lembro
I remember well
Da gente sentava ali
Us sitting there
Na grama do aterro, sob o céu
On the grass, under the sky
Ob-observando estrelas
Observing stars
Junto à fogueirinha de papel
By the paper bonfire
Quentar o frio
Warming up the cold
Requentar o pão
Reheating bread
E comer com você
And eating with you
Os pés, de manhã, pisar o chão
In the morning, stepping on the ground
Eu sei a barra de viver
I know how hard it is to live
Mas, se deus quiser
But, if God wills
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
Tudo, tudo, tudo vai dar pé
Everything, everything, everything will work out
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
(No woman, no cry)
It's not worth crying over missing women
Não, não chore mais
No, don't cry anymore
Menina não chore assim
Girl don't cry like that
Não, não chore mais oh oh oh
No, don't cry anymore
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
No woman, no cry
It's not worth crying over missing women
Não, não chore mais
No, don't cry anymore
Não chore assim
Don't cry like that
Não, não chore mais hê hê
No, don't cry anymore
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vincent Ford, Gilberto Gil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind