Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer… Read Full Bio ↴Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitarist, who is considered one of the foremost icons of Brazilian popular music. His work spans a multitude of genres, from contemporary folk to jazz, and is often rooted in the traditional and indigenous music of the country.

Nascimento was born in Rio de Janeiro, and grew up in Três Pontas, Minas Gerais. His mother was the maid Maria do Carmo Nascimento. When he was just a few months old, the boy was adopted by the family for whom his mother had previously worked: the couple Josino Brito Campos (a banker, mathematics teacher and electronic technician) and Lília Silva Campos (a music teacher). He lived in the boroughs of Laranjeiras and Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro. When he was 18 months old, his biological mother died and he moved with his adoptive parents to the city of Três Pontas, in the State of Minas Gerais.

In the earlier stages of his career, Nascimento played in two samba groups, Evolussamba and Sambacana. In 1963 he moved to Belo Horizonte, and his friendship with the Borges brothers (Marilton, Márcio e Lô Borges) led to the Clube da Esquina ("corner club") movement. Other members included Beto Guedes, Toninho Horta, Wagner Tiso, and Flavio Venturini.

Nascimento is famous for his chime-clear falsetto and tonal range, as well for highly acclaimed songs such as "Canção da América" ("Song from America") and "Coração de Estudante" ("Student's Heart"). The lyrics of "Coração de Estudante" remembers the funeral of the student Edson Luís, killed by police officers in 1968. The song became the hymn for the diretas Já campaign in 1984 and it was also played in the funeral of the late president Tancredo Neves the next year, who died before assuming the presidency.

While his reputation within Brazil was firmly established with his Clube da Esquina works, Nascimento's international breakthrough came with his appearance on jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter's 1974 album "Native Dancer". This led to widespread acclaim, and collaborations with American stars such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Pat Metheny.

Through his friendship with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, Nascimento came to work with the pop-rock band Duran Duran in 1993. Nascimento co-wrote and performed (in the Portuguese language) the song "Breath After Breath", featured on the band's 1993 album "Duran Duran". He also performed with the band in concert when they toured in Brazil, in support of that album. Nascimento earned a Grammy award for "Best World Music Album" in 1998 for his album "Nascimento", and was also nominated in 1991 and 1995.

A Felicidade
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

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Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim

A felicidade é como a gota
De orvalho numa pétala de flor
Brilha tranquila
Depois de leve oscila
E cai como uma lágrima de amor

A felicidade do pobre parece
A grande ilusão do carnaval
A gente trabalha o ano inteiro
Por um momento de sonho
Pra fazer a fantasia
De rei ou de pirata ou jardineira
E tudo se acabar na quarta feira

Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim

A felicidade é como a pluma
Que o vento vai levando pelo ar
Voa tão leve
Mas tem a vida breve
Precisa que haja vento sem parar

A minha felicidade está sonhando
Nos olhos da minha namorada
É como esta noite
Passando, passando
Em busca da madrugada
Falem baixo, por favor
Prá que ela acorde alegre como o dia
Oferecendo beijos de amor

Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Milton Nascimento's song "A Felicidade" (Happiness) talk about the ephemeral nature of happiness and the contrast between the rich and the poor in Brazil. The first stanza compares sadness and happiness, stating that while sadness has no end, happiness does. The second stanza uses a metaphor to describe happiness as a dewdrop on a flower petal that glimmers for a moment and then falls like a tear of love. The happiness of the poor, according to the third stanza, is like the great illusion of carnival. They work all year round to have a moment of dream, to dress up as kings, pirates, or gardeners, and everything ends on Wednesday.

The fourth stanza continues with the metaphor and describes happiness as a feather, which is light and can soar in the air, but its life is short and requires constant wind. The last stanza personalizes the song by talking about the singer's happiness, dreaming in his girlfriend's eyes. He wants to speak softly so that she wakes up joyous and offers him kisses of love. In essence, the song speaks of the fleeting, transitory nature of happiness, and how we all work for those brief, treasured moments that make life worthwhile.

Line by Line Meaning

Tristeza não tem fim
Sadness has no end

Felicidade sim
Happiness, on the other hand, does

A felicidade é como a gota
Happiness is like a droplet

De orvalho numa pétala de flor
Of dew on a flower petal

Brilha tranquila
It shines serenely

Depois de leve oscila
After a light sway

E cai como uma lágrima de amor
And falls like a tear of love

A felicidade do pobre parece
The poor person's happiness seems like

A grande ilusão do carnaval
The great illusion of Carnival

A gente trabalha o ano inteiro
We work the whole year

Por um momento de sonho
For a moment of dream