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.
Tradição
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uma garota do barulho
Namorava um rapaz que era muito inteligente
Um rapaz muito diferente
Inteligente no jeito de pongar no bonde
E diferente pelo tipo
De camisa aberta e certa calça americana
Arranjada de contrabando
E sair do banco e, desbancando, despongar do bonde
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Sempre lindo e sempre, sempre, sempre, sempre, sempre
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Conheci essa garota que era do Barbalho
Essa garota do barulho
No tempo que Lessa era goleiro do Bahia
Um goleiro, uma garantia
No tempo que a turma ía procurar porrada
Na base da vã valentia
No tempo que preto não entrava no Bahiano
Nem pela porta da cozinha
Conheci essa garota que era do Barbalho
No lotação de Liberdade
Que passava pelo ponto dos Quinze Mistérios
Indo do bairro pra cidade
Pra cidade, quer dizer, pro Largo do Terreiro
Pra onde todo mundo ía
Todo dia, todo dia, todo santo dia
Eu, minha irmã e minha tia
No tempo quem governava era Antônio Balbino
No tempo que eu era menino
Menino que eu era e veja que eu já reparava
Numa garota do Barbalho
Reparava tanto que acabei já reparando
No rapaz que ela namorava
Reparei que o rapaz era muito inteligente
Um rapaz muito diferente
Inteligente no jeito de pongar no bonde
E diferente pelo tipo
De camisa aberta e certa calça americana
Arranjada de contrabando
E sair do banco e, desbancando, despongar do bonde
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Sempre lindo e sempre, sempre, sempre, sempre, sempre
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Sempre lindo e sempre
Sempre rindo e sempre
Sempre lindo e sempre
Sempre rindo e sempre me olhando
The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's "Tradição" describe the singer's memories of a girl he met in Barbalho, a neighborhood in Salvador, Brazil. This girl was "noisy" and had a boyfriend who was different and intelligent. He wore an open shirt and American pants, which he had gotten through smuggling. The couple would ride on the bus and sing and laugh, always happy and carefree. The song also refers to the time when black people were not allowed to enter the Baiano Stadium, even through the kitchen door. The mention of Lessa, a Bahia goalkeeper, gives the song a temporal context - it seems to be set in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
The song is an homage to the people of the Barbalho neighborhood, a poor and historically important part of Salvador. The lyrics value the traditions of the place and the people, represented by the relaxed and joyful atmosphere of the couple. Despite the difficult social and historical context, the song celebrates the vitality and spirit of the people. The song also implicitly criticizes the prejudice against black people at the time, showing how even when they were excluded from places like the Baiano Stadium, they still found ways to enjoy life and participate in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Conheci uma garota que era do Barbalho
I met a girl who was from Barbalho.
Uma garota do barulho
She was a girl who was full of life and energy.
Namorava um rapaz que era muito inteligente
She was dating a guy who was very smart.
Um rapaz muito diferente
He was a very unique guy.
Inteligente no jeito de pongar no bonde
He was smart in the way he caught the bus.
E diferente pelo tipo
And he was different in the way he dressed.
De camisa aberta e certa calça americana
Wearing an open shirt and certain American pants.
Arranjada de contrabando
Obtained through illegal means.
E sair do banco e, desbancando, despongar do bonde
And leaving the bank, jumping off the bus, carefree.
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Always laughing and always singing.
Conheci essa garota que era do Barbalho
I met this girl from Barbalho.
No tempo que Lessa era goleiro do Bahia
In the time when Lessa was the goalkeeper of Bahia.
Um goleiro, uma garantia
A goalkeeper who was a guarantee.
No tempo que a turma ia procurar porrada
In the time when the group looked for fights.
Na base da vã valentia
Based on vain bravery.
No tempo que preto não entrava no Baiano
In the time when black people couldn't enter the Baiano club.
Nem pela porta da cozinha
Not even through the kitchen door.
No lotação de Liberdade
In the bus to Liberdade.
Que passava pelo ponto dos Quinze Mistérios
That passed through the Quinze Mistérios stop.
Indo do bairro pra cidade
Going from the neighborhood to the city.
Pra cidade, quer dizer, pro Largo do Terreiro
To the city, meaning to the Largo do Terreiro.
Pra onde todo mundo ia
Where everyone went.
Todo dia, todo dia, todo santo dia
Every day, every day, every single day.
Eu, minha irmã e minha tia
Me, my sister, and my aunt.
No tempo quem governava era Antonio Balbino
In the time when Antonio Balbino was in power.
No tempo que eu era menino
In the time when I was a boy.
Menino que eu era e veja que eu já reparava
Even when I was a boy, I was observant.
Numa garota do Barbalho
I noticed a girl from Barbalho.
Reparava tanto que acabei já reparando
I noticed so much that I ended up paying more attention.
No rapaz que ela namorava
In the guy she was dating.
Reparei que o rapaz era muito inteligente
I noticed that the guy was very smart.
Inteligente no jeito de pongar no bonde
Smart in the way he caught the bus.
E diferente pelo tipo
And he was different in the way he dressed.
De camisa aberta e certa calça americana
Wearing an open shirt and certain American pants.
Arranjada de contrabando
Obtained through illegal means.
E sair do banco e, desbancando, despongar do bonde
And leaving the bank, jumping off the bus, carefree.
Sempre rindo e sempre cantando
Always laughing and always singing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind