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.
O Sonho Acabou
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quem não dormiu no sleeping-bag nem sequer sonhou
O sonho acabou hoje, quando o céu
Foi de-manhando, dessolvindo, vindo, vindo
Dissolvendo a noite na boca do dia
O sonho acabou
Dissolvendo a pílula de vida do doutor Ross
O sonho acabou desmanchando
A trama do doutor Silvana
A transa do doutor Fantástico
E o meu melaço de cana
O sonho acabou transformando
O sangue do cordeiro em água
Derretendo a minha mágoa
Derrubando a minha cama
O sonho acabou
Foi pesado o sono pra quem não sonhou
The song "O Sonho Acabou" by Gilberto Gil is a reflection on the end of a utopian dream. The title itself, which translates to "The Dream is Over," sets the tone for a gloomy and reflective song. Gil laments that even those who did not dream, who did not participate in the creation of that utopia, will still feel the loss of it. He attributes the end of the dream to the morning light dissolving the night, and the subsequent dissolution of the "pill of life" from Dr. Ross, a reference to the mentally altering effects of drugs.
As the song progresses, Gil speaks more abstractly about the unraveling of the dream. The "plot" of Dr. Silvana and the "tricks" of Dr. Fantástico are undone, as well as Gil's own personal "syrup of cane." Throughout these lines, Gil is expressing the notion that the very fabric of the ideal they had built had been taken apart. Finally, he ends with the realization that the dream's end weighed heavy on those who did not even participate, as they still bear witness to a world without that perfection.
"Gilberto Gil was inspired to write "O Sonho Acabou" (The Dream Is Over) in 1973, after he, Caetano Veloso and other Brazilian musicians, known as The Authoritarian Generation, were arrested and exiled by the military dictatorship. This song became more than ever an anthem for freedom and democracy."
"The song was originally written for a play, Amor no Páis dos Sonhos (Love in the Land of Dreams), directed by Augusto Boal. It was performed at the Odeon Theater in Ro de Janeiro and was a unique example of popular theatre staged in a commercial theater."
"The song was originally released on "Temporada de Verão" in 1974, and it features a Bossa Nova rhythm with an orchestral sound."
"“O Sonho Acabou” was covered by Brazilian singer Elis Regina in 1974, and has since become a classic of Brazilian popular music."
"The song was featured on the popular Brazilian TV show, Tapas e Beijos (Bites and Kisses), as the theme song for Selminha (Andréa Beltrão), a character who would often belt the song out singing karaoke."
"In 1991, the song was featured on Gilberto Gil's MTV Unplugged album."
"The song was also featured in the Brazilian film, Central do Brasil (Central Station), in 1998."
"The song was included in the 2006 album, Gilberto Gil - Eletracústico, which features new arrangements of some of his most iconic songs."
"João Gilberto's son, Marcelo Gilberto, performed a version of the song that blends the original lyrics with some new ones, at a tribute concert to Gilberto Gil in Rio de Janeiro in 2013."
Chords: G7, A7, D7, G7, Em, Em7/D, Em, Ebdim, Am7, Em, Em7/D, Em, Ebdim, Am7, G/B, C, D7, G7, Am7, G/B, C, D7, G7.
Line by Line Meaning
O sonho acabou
The dream is over
Quem não dormiu no sleeping-bag nem sequer sonhou
Those who haven't slept on a sleeping-bag didn't even dream
O sonho acabou hoje, quando o céu
The dream is over today, when the sky
Foi de-manhando, dessolvindo, vindo, vindo
Was breaking, dissolving, coming, coming
Dissolvendo a noite na boca do dia
Dissolving the night into the mouth of the day
O sonho acabou
The dream is over
Dissolvendo a pílula de vida do doutor Ross
Dissolving Doctor Ross' life pill
Na barriga de Maria
In Maria's belly
O sonho acabou desmanchando
The dream is over, dismantling
A trama do doutor Silvana
Doctor Silvana's plot
A transa do doutor Fantástico
Doctor Fantástico's affair
E o meu melaço de cana
And my sugarcane molasses
O sonho acabou transformando
The dream is over, transforming
O sangue do cordeiro em água
The lamb's blood into water
Derretendo a minha mágoa
Melting my sorrow
Derrubando a minha cama
Knocking down my bed
O sonho acabou
The dream is over
Foi pesado o sono pra quem não sonhou
Sleeping was heavy for those who didn't dream
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marcos Frankowicz
O sonho acabou, mas a gente insiste em continuar sonhando!
William Simplicio
Viva Gilberto Gil, o resto é mera distração!
Wadyr Chaib
Ainda estou sonhando, sonhando que o sono acabou,mas é um sonho.. é continuo sonhando
davidartpins
Realmente senhor Gilberto Gil o sonho,
alberto
quem tocou esse violão deve que foi o próprio demônio, não é possível.
Victor Carvalhoso
É dois violão home
alberto
ironia, mas deve ser a melhor performance dele com o violão.
Newton Cismotto
O próprio Gil, quem mais ?
nikinnz
Gênio
FILME PRETO
Essa é muito Gil não conhecia