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.
Parabolicamará
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque Terra era grande
Hoje mundo é muito grande
Porque Terra é pequena
Do tamanho da antena parabolicamará
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Perto, só quando dava
Quando muito, ali defronte
E o horizonte acabava
Hoje lá trás dos montes, den' de casa, camará
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
De jangada leva uma eternidade
De saveiro leva uma encarnação
De jangada leva uma eternidade
De saveiro leva uma encarnação
Pela onda luminosa
Leva o tempo de um raio
Tempo que levava Rosa
Pra aprumar o balaio
Quando sentia que o balaio ia escorregar
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Esse tempo nunca passa
Não é de ontem nem de hoje
Mora no som da cabaça
Nem 'tá preso nem foge
No instante que tange o berimbau, meu camará
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
De jangada leva uma eternidade
De saveiro leva uma encarnação
De jangada leva uma eternidade
De saveiro leva uma encarnação
De avião, o tempo de uma saudade
Esse tempo não tem rédea
Vem nas asas do vento
O momento da tragédia
Chico, Ferreira e Bento
Só souberam na hora do destino apresentar
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Gilberto Gil's song Parabolicamará is a reflection on how the world has become smaller in terms of communication and information, while the physical size of the planet remains the same. The first stanza of the song compares the past when the world was small because the Earth was vast, to today's world, where the Earth is small and the world has become vast due to advancements in technology, symbolized by the parabolic antenna. The refrain "Ê, volta do mundo, camará; Êê, mundo dá volta, camará" emphasizes the interconnectedness of a world where communication has overcome geographical barriers.
The second verse focuses on the concept of distance and how it has changed over time. In the past, distance was a significant factor in communication, and people would only communicate with those near them. However, today, with the advent of the internet and other technological advancements, people can communicate across long distances. The metaphor of the wave of light, "pela onda luminosa," presents a contrast to Rosa, who takes longer to arrange her baskets. The implication being that while physical distance may have decreased with technology, individual differences remain.
The final part of the song highlights the timelessness of some aspects of life, such as musical traditions, symbolized by the berimbau. The vulnerability of life and the realization that sometimes we cannot control what happens, as shown through the tragedy of Chico, Ferreira, and Bento, emphasizes the need to make the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Antes mundo era pequeno
In the past, the world seemed small
Porque Terra era grande
Because the Earth was thought to be large
Hoje mundo é muito grande
But now the world is seen as very large
Porque Terra é pequena
Because we realize the Earth is actually small
Do tamanho da antena parabolicamará
Like the size of a parabolic antenna
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Oh, the world is round, my friend!
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Oh, the world turns around, my friend!
Antes longe era distante
In the past, faraway places seemed very distant
Perto, só quando dava
And even nearby places were only accessible when possible
Quando muito, ali defronte
At best, just across the street
E o horizonte acabava
And the horizon was as far as one could go
Hoje lá trás dos montes, den' de casa, camará
Nowadays, we can go beyond the mountains, without leaving home.
De jangada leva uma eternidade
With a raft, it takes forever
De saveiro leva uma encarnação
With a sailing boat, it takes a lifetime
Pela onda luminosa
But through the speed of lightwaves
Leva o tempo de um raio
We can travel instantaneously
Tempo que levava Rosa
The same time it took Rosa
Pra aprumar o balaio
To balance a basket on her head
Quando sentia que o balaio ia escorregar
And when she felt the basket start to slip
Esse tempo nunca passa
This time never goes away
Não é de ontem nem de hoje
It's been here for a long time
Mora no som da cabaça
It resides in the sound of the gourd
Nem 'tá preso nem foge
Neither trapped nor escaped
No instante que tange o berimbau, meu camará
It's in the instant when the berimbau starts to play
De avião, o tempo de uma saudade
Even with a plane, it still takes time to feel nostalgia
Esse tempo não tem rédea
You cannot control this time
Vem nas asas do vento
It blows on the wind's wings
O momento da tragédia
It's when tragedy strikes
Chico, Ferreira e Bento
Like with Chico, Ferreira, and Bento
Só souberam na hora do destino apresentar
Only then did they meet their fate
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Oh, the world is round, my friend!
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Oh, the world turns around, my friend!
Ê, volta do mundo, camará
Oh, the world is round, my friend!
Êê, mundo dá volta, camará
Oh, the world turns around, my friend!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind