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.
Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bananada de goiaba
Goiabada de marmelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Boneca de pano é gente
O sol nascente é tão belo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Rios de prata, piratas
Voo sideral na mata
Universo paralelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
No país da fantasia
No estado de euforia
Cidade Polichinelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo...
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo paint a vivid and colorful picture of a magical and imaginative place. The song is an ode to the fictional place of the same name, which translates to "Yellow Woodpecker Ranch". The song's opening lines refer to popular Brazilian sweets made of fruit pulp, banana, guava, and quince. The lyrics, "Marmalade of banana, banana candy of guava, quince cheese," set the scene for an imaginary world full of wonder and sensory delights.
The next lines highlight the fanciful nature of the place: "Rag doll is a person, corn cob is a person, the rising sun is so beautiful." Here, the song portrays how the characters and objects in Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo are imbued with life and personality. The third and fourth stanzas further explore the fantastical and surreal aspects of the place, with "rivers of silver," "pirates," and even "interstellar flight in the jungle." The chorus repeats the name of the ranch as if to reiterate the focus of the song, solidifying the idea that Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo is a mythical and idealized place where anything is possible.
One possible interpretation of the song's lyrics is that they reference not only the fictional location but the idea of imaginative hospitality, which is highly valued in Brazilian culture. The song suggests that Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo is a welcoming and open place where even objects like corn cobs can be recognized as people. The song invites the listener to participate in this imaginative world and to revel in its sensory delights. Finally, the song conveys the longing for a place of pure wonder and imagination, free from the constraints and harsh realities of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Marmelada de banana
A sweetened spread made from bananas
Bananada de goiaba
A sweetened spread made from guava
Goiabada de marmelo
A sweetened spread made from quince
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Boneca de pano é gente
A rag doll is a person, in the sense that it has value and can be loved
Sabugo de milho é gente
Corn cobs are people, in the sense that they are alive and have feelings
O sol nascente é tão belo
The rising sun is so beautiful
Rios de prata, piratas
Silver rivers, pirates
Voo sideral na mata
Interstellar flight in the jungle
Universo paralelo
Parallel universe
No país da fantasia
In the land of fantasy
No estado de euforia
In the state of euphoria
Cidade Polichinelo
Polichinelo City, a character from Italian puppet theater
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Sítio do Picapau Amarelo
The Yellow Woodpecker Ranch, a fictional location in Brazilian literature
Writer(s): Gilberto Gil
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luiz Felipe Basso
Marmelada de banana, bananada de goiaba
Goiabada de marmelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Boneca de pano é gente, sabugo de milho é gente
O Sol nascente é tão belo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Rios de prata, pirata
Voo sideral na mata, universo paralelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
No país da fantasia, num estado de euforia
Cidade polichinelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Brasil
(Correto)
Marmelada de banana
Bananada de goiaba
Goiabada de marmelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Boneca de pano é gente
Sabugo de milho é gente
O sol nascente é tão belo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Rios de prata pirata
Voo sideral na mata
Universo paralelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
No país da fantasia
Num estado de euforia
Cidade polichinelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo
Felipe Santos
Essa música é um patrimônio cultural do Brasil !
Carlos Rudio
Concordo plenamente
sulamitha mil escritos
Sulamitha
sulamitha mil escritos
Sulamitha lido
Rafinha Gamer
@sulamitha mil escritos tgffyg
Rafinha Gamer
@sulamitha mil escritos ttueye😵🧚♀️👼😡
Cami Cami
"O sol nascente é tão belo"
E eu sempre cantei " O sol nasce, dia tão belo" KKKK🤡🤡
유아리
E eu que cantava "o sol nasce amarelo" 😐
Ninguém
Tbm
Camila
Eu dissia o ''sol nasce e tom amarelo'' kkkkkkkk