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.
Roda-Circle
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na roda que eu te fiz
Quero mostrar a quem vem
Aquilo que o povo diz
Posso falar, pois eu sei
Eu tiro os outros por mim
Quando almoço, não janto
E quando canto é assim
Agora vou divertir
Agora vou começar
Quero ver quem vai sair
Quero ver quem vai ficar
Não é obrigado a me ouvir
Quem não quiser escutar
Quem tem dinheiro no mundo
Quanto mais tem, quer ganhar
E a gente que não tem nada
Fica pior do que está
Seu moço, tenha vergonha
Acabe a descaração
Deixe o dinheiro do pobre
E roube outro ladrão
Agora vou divertir
Agora vou prosseguir
Quero ver quem vai ficar
Quero ver quem vai sair
Não é obrigado a escutar
Quem não quiser me ouvir
Se morre o rico e o pobre
Enterre o rico e eu
Quero ver quem que separa
O pó do rico do meu
Se lá embaixo há igualdade
Aqui em cima há de haver
Quem quer ser mais do que é
Um dia há de sofrer
Agora vou divertir
Agora vou prosseguir
Quero ver quem vai ficar
Quero ver quem vai sair
Não é obrigado a escutar
Quem não quiser me ouvir
Seu moço, tenha cuidado
Com sua exploração
Se não lhe dou de presente
A sua cova no chão
Quero ver quem vai dizer
Quero ver quem vai mentir
Quero ver quem vai negar
Aquilo que eu disse aqui
Agora vou divertir
Agora vou terminar
Quero ver quem vai sair
Quero ver quem vai ficar
Não é obrigado a me ouvir
Quem não quiser escutar
Agora vou terminar
Agora vou discorrer
Quem sabe tudo e diz logo
Fica sem nada a dizer
Quero ver quem vai voltar
Quero ver quem vai fugir
Quero ver quem vai ficar
Quero ver quem vai trair
Por isso eu fecho essa roda
A roda que eu te fiz
A roda que é do povo
Onde se diz o que diz
Gilberto Gil's song "Roda-Circle" is a commentary on the social and economic inequality present in Brazilian society. The lyrics reference the circle or roda, a traditional dance and musical formation in Brazil that symbolizes unity and community. Gil is using this symbol to draw attention to the social and economic disparities that exist in Brazilian society, where the wealthy continue to accumulate wealth while the poor struggle to survive.
Gil starts by addressing his people and inviting them to pay attention to the circle he has created to show them what people say. He then goes on to critique the greed of the wealthy and the exploitation of the poor. He suggests that the rich should be ashamed of their behavior and should stop stealing from those who have less. He also argues that in death, all people are equal, regardless of their wealth, so there should be more equality in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Meu povo, preste atenção
Attention, my people
Na roda que eu te fiz
In the circle that I formed for you
Quero mostrar a quem vem
I want to show those who come
Aquilo que o povo diz
What the people say
Posso falar, pois eu sei
I can speak, for I know
Eu tiro os outros por mim
I take others for myself
Quando almoço, não janto
When I have lunch, I don't have dinner
E quando canto é assim
And when I sing, it's like this
Agora vou divertir
Now I'm going to have fun
Agora vou começar
Now I'm going to start
Quero ver quem vai sair
I want to see who will leave
Quero ver quem vai ficar
I want to see who will stay
Não é obrigado a me ouvir
You're not obligated to listen to me
Quem não quiser escutar
Whoever doesn't want to listen
Quem tem dinheiro no mundo
Those with money in the world
Quanto mais tem, quer ganhar
The more they have, the more they want to gain
E a gente que não tem nada
And we, who have nothing
Fica pior do que está
Are worse off than before
Seu moço, tenha vergonha
Sir, be ashamed
Acabe a descaração
Stop the shamelessness
Deixe o dinheiro do pobre
Leave the poor's money
E roube outro ladrão
And steal from another thief
Se morre o rico e o pobre
If the rich and the poor die
Enterre o rico e eu
Bury the rich and me
Quero ver quem separa
I want to see who separates
O pó do rico do meu
The rich man's dust from mine
Se lá embaixo há igualdade
If there is equality down there
Aqui em cima há de haver
Then there must be equality up here
Quem quer ser mais do que é
Those who want to be more than they are
Um dia há de sofrer
Will suffer one day
Seu moço, tenha cuidado
Sir, be careful
Com sua exploração
With your exploitation
Se não lhe dou de presente
If I don't give you as a gift
A sua cova no chão
Your grave in the ground
Quero ver quem vai dizer
I want to see who will say
Quero ver quem vai mentir
I want to see who will lie
Quero ver quem vai negar
I want to see who will deny
Aquilo que eu disse aqui
What I said here
Agora vou terminar
Now I'm going to finish
Agora vou discorrer
Now I'm going to elaborate
Quem sabe tudo e diz logo
Who knows everything and says it right away
Fica sem nada a dizer
Has nothing left to say
Quero ver quem vai voltar
I want to see who will come back
Quero ver quem vai fugir
I want to see who will run away
Quero ver quem vai trair
I want to see who will betray
Por isso eu fecho essa roda
That's why I'm closing this circle
A roda que é do povo
The circle that belongs to the people
Onde se diz o que diz
Where one speaks what is said
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GILBERTO GIL, JOAO AUGUSTO AZEVEDO FILHO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind