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.
Pé da roseira
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E as flores caíram no chão
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia:
"Tá certo, Maria
Você tem razão"
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia:
"Tá certo, Maria
Você tem razão"
Maria chorava, eu fugia
Sem ter nada mais pra dizer
O amor terminado e Maria
Me via partindo, sem saber por quê
Me via partindo e chorava
Me amava e não podia crer
Que o mundo afinal me levava
E nada lhe dava o jeito de entender
Eu também não compreendia
Porque terminava um amor
Nem mesmo se o amor terminava
Só sei que eu andava
E não sentia dor
Me lembro na porta da casa
Lá dentro Maria chorava
Depois, caminhando sozinho
Lembrei da ciranda que meu pai cantava
Depois, caminhando sozinho
Lembrei da ciranda que meu pai cantava
O pé da roseira murchou
E as flores caíram no chão
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia:
"Tá certo, Maria
Você tem razão"
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia:
"Tá certo, Maria
Você tem razão"
The song "Pé da roseira" by Gilberto Gil is a poignant portrayal of lost love and the difficult emotions that follow when a relationship ends. The lyrics describe a wilting rose bush, with its flowers falling to the ground, as the singer tries to comfort his partner, Maria, who is crying. He acknowledges her pain and agrees that she is justified in feeling upset, but at the same time, he is unable to fully explain or understand why their love has ended. Despite his attempts to console her, he ultimately leaves her alone and confused, unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for why he is leaving.
The song captures the bittersweet and complicated emotions that come with the end of a relationship, particularly the difficulty of fully processing and understanding why things have ended. The metaphor of the wilting rose bush further emphasizes the fragility and transience of love, and how it can so easily fade away.
The song has a melancholy yet beautiful quality, with its wistful melody and gentle instrumentation. The repetition of the lines "Tá certo, Maria / Você tem razão" (which means "You're right, Maria") adds to the mournful tone of the song, as the singer tries to come to terms with the end of his relationship and the pain it has caused.
Line by Line Meaning
O pé da roseira murchou
The rose bush's stem wilted
E as flores caíram no chão
The flowers fell to the ground
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia: 'Tá certo, Maria / Você tem razão'
When Maria cried, I said: 'You are right, Maria'
Maria chorava, eu fugia / Sem ter nada mais pra dizer
Maria cried, I ran away without anything else to say
O amor terminado e Maria / Me via partindo, sem saber por quê
Our love was over and Maria saw me leaving without knowing why
Me via partindo e chorava / Me amava e não podia crer
She saw me leaving and cried / She loved me but couldn't believe it
Que o mundo afinal me levava / E nada lhe dava o jeito de entender
That the world was taking me away from her / And she couldn't understand why
Eu também não compreendia / Porque terminava um amor
I also didn't understand / Why our love was ending
Nem mesmo se o amor terminava / Só sei que eu andava / E não sentia dor
Even if our love was ending / All I knew was that I walked away without feeling pain
Me lembro na porta da casa / Lá dentro Maria chorava
I remember standing at the door / Inside, Maria cried
Depois, caminhando sozinho / Lembrei da ciranda que meu pai cantava
Later, walking alone / I remembered the circle dance my father used to sing
O pé da roseira murchou / E as flores caíram no chão /Quando ela chorava, eu dizia: 'Tá certo, Maria / Você tem razão'
The rose bush wilted and the flowers fell to the ground / When Maria cried, I said: 'You are right, Maria'
Quando ela chorava, eu dizia: 'Tá certo, Maria / Você tem razão'
When Maria cried, I said: 'You are right, Maria'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M. A.
composição genial
Herbert Luiz
Essa canção é magnífica! O fim do amor, a incredulidade do amor que termina. Por que ?! É o grito de quem ainda ama. E a canção não dá resposta, porque não há resposta.
Pablo Corroche
Tanto com Gil como com Bethânia, essa música é linda! ❤️
Alberto ;
esse disco do gil... inacreditável. a mistúra do erudito e popular, psicodélico e sóbrio. um álbum pra dançar, chorar, rir, pensar, e no fim de tudo, crer.
Nicolas Paparelli
obra prima pra crrrl
Cesar b costa
quarteto novo com syd barrett
Obi Silva
caraleo, musicão da porra