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.

Um sonho
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Olha lá vai passando a procissão
Se arrastando que nem cobra pelo chão
As pessoas que nela vão passando
Acreditam nas coisas lá do céu
As mulheres cantando tiram versos
Os homens escutando tiram o chapéu
Eles vivem penando aqui na terra
Esperando o que Jesus prometeu

E Jesus prometeu vida melhor
Pra quem vive nesse mundo sem amor
Só depois de entregar o corpo ao chão
Só depois de morrer neste sertão
Eu também tô do lado de Jesus
Só que acho que ele se esqueceu
De dizer que na terra a gente tem
De arranjar um jeitinho pra viver
Muita gente se arvora a ser Deus
E promete tanta coisa pro sertão
Que vai dar um vestido pra Maria
E promete um roçado pro João
Entra ano, sai ano, e nada vem
Meu sertão continua ao deus-dará
Mas se existe Jesus no firmamento
Cá na terra isto tem que se acabar

rough english translation:

Look at the procession go by
Pulling itself like a snake over the ground
The people who are passing
Believe in something beyond the sky
The women are singing verses
The men listening take of their hats
They live in penance here on earth
Waiting for what Jesus promised
Jesus promised a better life
To those living in this world without love
But only after their body is delivered to the ground
Only after dying in the Sertao
I’m on Jesus’ side too
But I think he has forgotten
To speak to the earth that these people live on
And tell it to arrange a way for them to live
Because so many people are flying up to God
Who promises so many things for the Sertao
That he will give a dress to Maria
And promises a farm for Joao
Year after year nothing comes
And the Sertao continues to give to God

But if Jesus exists up in heaven
Then here on earth this has to stop

Overall Meaning

Gilberto Gil's song "Um sonho" is a poignant commentary on the intersection between faith and reality. Through the lyrics, Gil paints a picture of a procession moving slowly and heavily, like a serpent through the earth, with people who believe in the promises of Jesus. They sing, they take off their hats, and they go through life with a sense of penance, waiting for the better life that Jesus had promised them. But at the same time, there is an acknowledgment that life on earth is still difficult, with poverty and hardship continuing to impact the lives of those in the Sertão region.

The song's powerful message is one that resonates with many listeners, regardless of their religious background. It draws attention to the tension between faith and reality, and it highlights the need for people to find ways of living in a world that can be difficult and challenging. Ultimately, even though Gil is supportive of Jesus, his message is focused on the need for people to find solutions to their problems on this earth, rather than simply waiting for divine intervention.

Line by Line Meaning

Olha lá vai passando a procissão
The procession goes by

Se arrastando que nem cobra pelo chão
It goes slowly, like a snake on the ground

As pessoas que nela vão passando
The people who are passing

Acreditam nas coisas lá do céu
Believe in things beyond the sky

As mulheres cantando tiram versos
The women sing verses

Os homens escutando tiram o chapéu
The men listen and take off their hats

Eles vivem penando aqui na terra
They live in penance here on earth

Esperando o que Jesus prometeu
Waiting for what Jesus promised

E Jesus prometeu vida melhor
Jesus promised a better life

Pra quem vive nesse mundo sem amor
For those living in this world without love

Só depois de entregar o corpo ao chão
Only after their body is delivered to the ground