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.
Volks Volkswagen Blue
Gilberto Gil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Um Volks-Volkswagen blue
Zeca, meu pai, comprou
Um carrinho todo azul
Para Beto, para Dina
Chega benção de Claudina
Anda minha mãe mofina
Duas marinaravilhas
Minha cara, duas filhas
Minha caravela, ê
Vai seguindo rumo, ê
Minha cara Bela, ê
Vai seguindo rumo, ê
Viva Bela, ê, ê, camará
Vida bela, ê, ê, camará
Margarida, ê
Me criou pra valer
Morena, morenê, camará
Vou ficar com você
Vou viver com você, camará
Com Jesus vou morrer
Zeca, meu pai, comprou
Um VW mais novo
Zeca, meu pai, mandou
Um beijo, um abraço saudoso
Zeca, meu pai, comprou
Um VW mais novo
Zeca, meu pai, mandou
Um beijo, um abraço gostoso
The lyrics of the song "Volks Volkswagen Blue" by Gilberto Gil talk about the experience of a family who buys a Volkswagen car. The first stanza talks about how the singer's father, Zeca, bought a blue Volkswagen car. The second stanza talks about how the car is a blessing for the family members Beto, Dina, and Claudina. The third stanza talks about the mother of the singer, who misses her daughters and how the car takes them to see them. The fourth stanza mentions the singer's sisters as two "marinaravilhas," meaning two fantastic things, and refers to the car as "minha caravela" which means "my caravel" in Portuguese. The fifth stanza mentions the names of the women in the family and celebrates the beauty of life. The last stanza talks about the father buying a newer model of the car and sending greetings to the family.
The song talks about the car as a symbol of family togetherness, love, and connection. The Volkswagen car is presented as a modern and practical solution to connect family members who live apart from each other. It is also seen as a source of joy and happiness in the family's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Zeca, meu pai, comprou
Zeca's father bought
Um Volks-Volkswagen blue
A blue Volkswagen car
Um carrinho todo azul
A completely blue car
Para Beto, para Dina
For Beto, for Dina
Chega benção de Claudina
Blessings arrive from Claudina
Anda minha mãe mofina
My sad mother is walking
Que saudade, que saudade das meninas
What longing, what longing for the girls
Duas marinaravilhas
Two marvelous girls
Minha cara, duas filhas
My dear, two daughters
Minha caravela, ê
My sailing ship, hey
Vai seguindo rumo, ê
Follows its course, hey
Minha cara Bela, ê
My beautiful face, hey
Vai seguindo rumo, ê
Follows its course, hey
Viva Bela, ê, ê, camará
Long live Bela, hey, hey, friend
Vida bela, ê, ê, camará
Beautiful life, hey, hey, friend
Margarida, ê
Daisy, hey
Me criou pra valer
Raised me for real
Morena, morenê, camará
Brunette, brunette, friend
Vou ficar com você
I'll stay with you
Vou viver com você, camará
I'll live with you, friend
Com Jesus vou morrer
With Jesus I will die
Um VW mais novo
A newer VW
Um beijo, um abraço saudoso
A loving kiss, a nostalgic hug
Um beijo, um abraço gostoso
A loving kiss, a pleasant hug
Contributed by Allison G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gueres Johnson
Um dos melhores compositores e músicos BRASILEIRO. Um ser diferenciado
Qq coisa
Let me present to you My Volks-Volkswagen blues Ready to carry me away A long way to reach the moon Let me present to you My Volks-Volkswagen blues Ready to carry me away A long way to reach the moon Such an idea fills my daydream Such an idea brings a moon beam Such a floating light thread Hangs on my little cabin, lonely cabin My lunar Volkswagen cabin With no men, no dog, no bag in Such an idea thrills my soul Breaks down my self control So I haste away to find Accelerating my mind Now my cabin floats holding me in I've got the space under my skin Such an idea thrills my soul Breaks down my self control But I feel like a yolk in a egg On the way to the moon Thrown high in the sky by my dream In my Volkswagen blues Let me present to you My Volks-Volkswagen blues Ready to carry me away A long way to reach the moon Let me present, let me sing to you My Volks-Volkswagen blues Ready to carry me away A long way to reach the moon
mauricio pereira alves
Na minha humilde opinião, Gil é o cantor que mais perfeitamente canta em inglês. Os regues então!
Antônio Neto
Coisa linda. Uma prova da excelência da música brasileira.
Sid Vicious
O inglês do cara tá realmente excelente, e olha que isso foi gravado no ínicio dos anos 70.
Armando Barbosa
Uma ótima canção,alias, nunca tinha ouvido,sem sombra de dúvidas, irretocavel
Rilton
Gênio!!!
PEDRO VANIUS
Valeu ministro !!👏🏻👍Nasci um ano após o lançamento desse excelente música !!
PEDRO VANIUS
@Emanuelle Brito 👍
Emanuelle Brito
PEDRO VANIUS Nasci 20 anos após o lançamento dessa música e pra mim ela também é excelente!