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.

Pílula De Alho
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Você já ouviu falar
Da pílula de alho?
É uma pílula amarela
'Cê toma uma daquela
Nem sabe o que é que sente
Mas a infecção já era

Eu tive dor de dente

Tomei algumas delas
As bichinhas logo agiram
Depois de certo tempo
Senti-me melhorado
E os sintomas maus sumiram

A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor
É puro óleo de alho
É como a flor de dendê
É mel da planta isenta
De qualquer outro fator
A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor

A luminosidade
É de bola de gude
A transparência é cristalina
Vê-se que é coisa pura
Sente-se que é coisa nova
Sabe-se que é coisa fina

A pílula de alho
Da planta antibiótica
Da velha medicina
Que desenvolvimento
Que belo ensinamento
A pílula de alho ensina

A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor
É puro óleo de alho
É como a flor de dendê
É mel da planta isenta
De qualquer outro fator
A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor

Você já ouviu falar
Da pílula de alho?
É uma pílula amarela
'Cê toma uma daquela
Nem sabe o que é que sente
Mas a infecção já era

Eu tive dor de dente
Tomei algumas delas
As bichinhas logo agiram
Depois de pouco tempo
Senti-me melhorado
E os sintomas maus sumiram

A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor
É puro óleo de alho
É como a flor de dendê
É mel da planta isenta
De qualquer outro fator
A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor

A luminosidade
É de bola de gude
A transparência é cristalina
Vê-se que é coisa pura
Sente-se que é coisa nova
Sabe-se que é coisa fina

A pílula de alho
Da planta antibiótica
Da velha medicina
Que desenvolvimento
Que lindo ensinamento
A pílula de alho ensina

A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor
É puro óleo de alho
É como a flor de dendê
É mel da planta isenta
De qualquer outro fator
A pílula de alho
Feita de alho e calor

Camará

Overall Meaning

Gilberto Gil's song "Pílula De Alho" talks about the health benefits of garlic and how a pill made from it can help cure infections and other ailments. The song begins with the singer asking if the listener has ever heard of the garlic pill and describing its yellow color. He then goes on to talk about how taking one of these pills can quickly cure an infection and make a person feel better.

The second verse mentions the singer's personal experience with a toothache and how taking these pills helped him get rid of the pain after some time. The chorus talks more about the garlic pill and how it is made from pure garlic oil. The singer compares it to other natural products that are pure and free from any other additives.

The third verse describes the appearance of the pill which is crystal clear and pure. The singer talks about how it is made from antibacterial plants and is a valuable addition to traditional medicine with its beautiful teachings. The chorus repeats, stressing the purity and efficacy of the garlic pill.

Overall, the song praises the benefits of natural medicine and garlic in particular. It highlights the importance of traditional remedies and the potential for natural products to cure ailments that modern medicine may not be able to.

Line by Line Meaning

Você já ouviu falar
Have you ever heard of

Da pílula de alho?
The garlic pill?

É uma pílula amarela
It's a yellow pill

'Cê toma uma daquela
You take one of those

Nem sabe o que é que sente
You don't even know what you're feeling

Mas a infecção já era
But the infection is gone

Eu tive dor de dente
I had a toothache

Tomei algumas delas
I took a few of them

As bichinhas logo agiram
The little things acted quickly

Depois de certo tempo
After a certain time

Senti-me melhorado
I felt better