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.

Sonho Molhado
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Faz muito tempo que eu não tomo chuva
Faz muito tempo que eu não sei o que é me deixar
molhar
Bem molhadinho, molhadinho de chuva
Faz muito tempo que eu não sei o que é pegar um toró

De tá na chuva quando a chuva cair
De não correr pra me abrigar, me cobrir

De ser assim uma limpeza total
De tá na rua e ser um banho
Na rua
Um banho

De ser igual quando a gente vai dormir
Que a gente sente alguém acariciar
Depois que passa o furacão de prazer
Ficar molhado e ser um sonho
Molhado
Um sonho

Eu vou dormir (enxutinho)
E acordo molhadinho de chuva

Overall Meaning

In Gilberto Gil's song "Sonho Molhado", he talks about how it's been a long time since he's experienced the joy and freedom that comes with getting caught in the rain. He longs for the feeling of being completely soaked, without the need to run for cover. The rain represents a sort of cleansing, a refreshing break from his everyday routine. He compares the experience of being in the rain to the post-coital satisfaction of being drenched in sweat. Throughout the song, he yearns for this experience once again, and in the end, he dreams of waking up soaked from the rain.

The lyrics are not only about the physical sensation of being in the rain but also about the emotional freedom that comes with it. It's a metaphor for letting go of control and surrendering to the moment. The rain washes away the worries and the responsibilities, leaving only the present. The song also touches on the idea of reliving a childhood memory or an experience that one has not had in a long time, which adds a layer of nostalgia to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Faz muito tempo que eu não tomo chuva
It's been a long time since I last felt the rain

Faz muito tempo que eu não sei o que é me deixar molhar
It's been a long time since I last allowed myself to get wet

Bem molhadinho, molhadinho de chuva
Completely drenched, drenched in the rain

Faz muito tempo que eu não sei o que é pegar um toró
It's been a long time since I last experienced a heavy rainstorm

De tá na chuva quando a chuva cair
To be in the rain when it falls

De não correr pra me abrigar, me cobrir
To not run for shelter, to not cover myself

De ser assim uma limpeza total
To be completely cleansed

De tá na rua e ser um banho
To be on the street and be like taking a shower

Na rua um banho
A shower on the street

De ser igual quando a gente vai dormir
To be like when we go to sleep

Que a gente sente alguém acariciar
When we feel someone caressing us