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.
Rancho Da Rosa Encarnada
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nas cantigas mais antigas
Que o meu rancho da rosa encarnada escolheu pra cantar
Pelas calçadas enfeitadas se vê
Tanta gente pra nos receber
Somos cantores
Cantamos as flores
Trazemos também
A notícia da grande alegria que vem
Pra durar mais que um dia
E ficar como antigas cantigas
Que não morrem
Que não passam jamais
Como passam sempre os carnavais
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song "Rancho da Rosa Encarnada" convey a sense of community celebration and the passing on of traditions through song. The singer acknowledges the antiquity of the songs that his "Rancho da Rosa Encarnada" has chosen to sing, but expresses excitement at the prospect of adding new stories and experiences to these familiar tunes. The decorated sidewalks are evidence of the many people who have come to receive the singers and hear their music. The singer notes that they sing not only of love and flowers, but also of the "great joy" that will last longer than a single day.
One interesting aspect of the lyrics is the use of the first-person plural - "somos cantores" (we are singers), "cantamos as flores" (we sing of the flowers) - which emphasizes the collective nature of the celebration. The singer and his fellow singers are not the only ones creating and performing the music; they are part of a larger community that values and supports this tradition. Additionally, the metaphor of songs as "old" but enduring, as opposed to the fleeting nature of carnival, highlights the importance of maintaining cultural heritage in a world that is constantly changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Vejam quantas coisas novas vamos contar
See how many new things we will tell about
Nas cantigas mais antigas
In the oldest songs
Que o meu rancho da rosa encarnada escolheu pra cantar
That my 'Rancho da Rosa Encarnada' has chosen to sing
Pelas calçadas enfeitadas se vê
On the decorated sidewalks, one sees
Tanta gente pra nos receber
So many people to receive us
Somos cantores
We are singers
Cantamos as flores
We sing about flowers
Cantamos amores
We sing about love
Trazemos também
We also bring
A notícia da grande alegria que vem
The news of the great happiness that is coming
Pra durar mais que um dia
To last more than a day
E ficar como antigas cantigas
And remain like old songs
Que não morrem
That do not die
Que não passam jamais
That never pass
Como passam sempre os carnavais
Like the carnivals that always pass
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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