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.

ele falava nisso todo dia
Gilberto Gil Lyrics

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Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia
Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia

Ele falava nisso todo dia
Ele falava nisso todo dia
A herança, a segurança, a garantia
Pra mulher, para a filhinha, pra família
Falava nisso todo dia

Ele falava nisso todo dia
Ele falava nisso todo dia
O seguro da família, o futuro da família
O seguro, o futuro
Falava nisso todo dia

Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia
Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia

Ele falava nisso todo dia
A incerteza, a pobreza, a má sorte
Quem sabe lá o que aconteceria?
A mulher, a filhinha, a família desamparada
Retrata a carreira frustrada de um homem de bem
Ele falava nisso todo dia
O seguro de vida, o pecúlio
Era preciso toda a garantia
Se a mulher chora o corpo do marido
O seguro de vida, o pecúlio
Darão a certeza do dever cumprido

Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia
Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia

Ele falava nisso todo dia
Ele falava nisso todo dia
Se morresse ainda forte, um bom seguro era uma sorte
Pra família
A loteria
Falava nisso todo dia

Era um rapaz de vinte e cinco anos
Era um rapaz de vinte e cinco anos
Hoje ele morreu atropelado em frente à companhia
De seguro
Oh! que futuro!
Oh! Rapaz de vinte e cinco anos

Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia
Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gilberto Gil's song "Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia" are a social commentary about a man who obsessively talks about the importance of insurance, security, and stability for his family. The repeated verses emphasize the man's fixation on this topic, which seems to stem from his fears about poverty, uncertainty, and the possibility of his untimely death. He seeks to provide a safety net for his wife and daughter, but his constant preoccupation with these issues may also reflect a sense of inadequacy or anxiety about his role as a provider.

The lyrics also suggest a critique of the insurance industry, which profits from people's fears and sells the promise of protection without necessarily delivering on it. The lines "A loteria/Falava nisso todo dia" imply that the man's focus on insurance is like playing the lottery, a risky and unreliable way to secure his family's future. The final verse brings a tragic end to the story, as the man dies in a fatal accident in front of an insurance company. This irony highlights the gap between the promises of security and the reality of life's unpredictability.

Overall, "Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia" is a poignant reflection on the pressures and fears that inform our ideas of family, responsibility, and financial stability, as well as the limitations and contradictions of the systems that claim to offer solutions to these concerns.

Line by Line Meaning

Alaiá, alaiá, alaiaialeluia
Refrain of the song.

Ele falava nisso todo dia
He spoke about it every day.

A herança, a segurança, a garantia
Inheritance, security, and assurance.

Pra mulher, para a filhinha, pra família
For his wife, his daughter, and his family.

Falava nisso todo dia
He spoke about it every day.

O seguro da família, o futuro da família
The family's insurance, the family's future.

O seguro, o futuro
The insurance, the future.

A incerteza, a pobreza, a má sorte
Uncertainty, poverty, and bad luck.

Quem sabe lá o que aconteceria?
Who knows what would happen?

A mulher, a filhinha, a família desamparada
The wife, the daughter, the helpless family.

Retrata a carreira frustrada de um homem de bem
Portrays a frustrated career of an honest man.