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.
Tempo Rei
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tudo permanecerá
Do jeito que tem sido
Transcorrendo
Transformando
Tempo e espaço navegando
Todos os sentidos
Corcovados
Fustigados pela chuva
E pelo eterno vento
Água mole
Pedra dura
Tanto bate
Que não restará
Nem pensamento
Tempo rei
Oh tempo rei
Oh, tempo rei
Transformai
As velhas formas do viver
Ensinai-me, oh Pai
O que eu, ainda não sei
Mãe Senhora do Perpétuo
Socorrei
Tempo rei
Pensamento
Mesmo o fundamento
Singular do ser humano
De um momento, para o outro
Poderá não mais fundar
Nem gregos, nem baianos
Mães zelosas
Pais corujas
Vejam como as águas
De repente ficam sujas
Não se iludam (não me iludam)
Não me iludo (não me iludo)
Tudo agora mesmo
Pode estar por um segundo
Tempo rei
Oh tempo rei
Oh, tempo rei
Transformai
As velhas formas do viver
Ensinai-me
Oh Pai o que eu, ainda não sei
Mãe Senhora do Perpétuo
Socorrei
Tempo rei
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song Tempo Rei reflect the theme of impermanence and the ever-changing nature of time and space. The song begins with the lines "Não me iludo/Tudo permanecerá do jeito que tem sido," which roughly translates to "I'm not fooled/Everything will stay the way it has been." These lines establish that the singer is aware of the transitory nature of life and how everything is subject to change.
The following lines in the song use vivid imagery to further illustrate the theme of impermanence. The "Pães de Açúcar/Corcovados" and other natural landmarks in Brazil are described as being "Fustigados pela chuva e pelo eterno vento" ("beaten by rain and eternal wind"), emphasizing how even solid structures are subject to decay and erosion over time. The line "Água mole/Pedra dura/Tanto bate que não restará nem pensamento" ("Soft water/hard stone/So much beating that not even thought will remain") highlights the idea that even seemingly unchangeable ideas or concepts can be gradually worn away by time.
The chorus of the song, "Tempo rei, ó, tempo rei, ó, tempo rei/Transformai as velhas formas do viver/Ensinai-me, ó, pai, o que eu ainda não sei/Mãe Senhora do Perpétuo, socorrei" ("Time king, oh, time king, oh, time king/Transform the old forms of life/Teach me, oh father, what I don't know yet/Mother Lady of Perpetual Help, help me"), is a plea for guidance and wisdom in the face of the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Não me iludo
I am not deceived by the current state of things.
Tudo permanecerá do jeito que tem sido
Everything will continue to be as it has been in the past.
Transcorrendo
Events unfold and situations change.
Transformando
Everything goes through a metamorphosis.
Tempo e espaço navegando todos os sentidos
Time and space are infinite and all-encompassing.
Pães de Açúcar
Sugarloaf Mountain.
Corcovados
The statue of Christ the Redeemer.
Fustigados pela chuva e pelo eterno vento
Subjected to the lashings of rain and wind.
Água mole
Soft water.
Pedra dura
Hard stone.
Tanto bate que não restará nem pensamento
With time, repetitive actions can cause even the strongest to suffer harm.
Tempo rei, ó, tempo rei, ó, tempo rei
Oh, time, you who rule over everything.
Transformai as velhas formas do viver
Bring transformation to old ways of living.
Ensinai-me, ó, pai, o que eu ainda não sei
Father, teach me what I do not yet know.
Mãe Senhora do Perpétuo, socorrei
Mother Lady of the Perpetual Help, come to my aid.
Pensamento
The fundamental basis of human existence.
Mesmo o fundamento singular do ser humano
Even the singular essence of human beings can be challenged.
De um momento para o outro
In the blink of an eye.
Poderá não mais fundar nem gregos nem baianos
It may no longer be sufficient to base one's identity on heritage or origin.
Mães zelosas
Diligent mothers.
Pais corujas
Proud fathers.
Vejam como as águas de repente ficam sujas
See how suddenly things can take a turn for the worse.
Não se iludam
Don't be deceived by the current state of things.
Tudo agora mesmo pode estar por um segundo
At any moment, everything can change in an instant.
Tempo rei, ó, tempo rei, ó, tempo rei
Oh, time, you who rule over everything.
Transformai as velhas formas do viver
Bring transformation to old ways of living.
Ensinai-me, ó, pai, o que eu ainda não sei
Father, teach me what I do not yet know.
Mãe Senhora do Perpétuo, socorrei
Mother Lady of the Perpetual Help, come to my aid.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind