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.
Bridges
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
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In my search for something real
There were great suspension bridges
Made like spiderwebs of steel
There were tiny wooden trestles
And there were bridges made of stone
I have always been a stranger
And I've always been alone
There's a bridge from the past
There's a bridge made of sorrow
That I pray will not last
There's a bridge made of colors
In the sky high above
And I think that there must be
Bridges made out of love
I can see her in the distance
On the river's other shore
And her hands reach out in longing
As my own have done before
And I call across to tell her
Where I believe the bridge must lie
And I'll find it
Yes, I'll find it
If I search until I die
When the bridge is between us
We'll have nothing to fear
We will run through the sunlight
And I'll meet her halfway
There's a bridge made of colors
In the sky high above
And I'm certain that somewhere
There's a bridge made of love
The lyrics of "Bridges" by Milton Nascimento speak to the universal human experience of searching for something real and meaningful in life. The singer describes crossing countless bridges, both physical and metaphorical, in his quest for connection and understanding. The bridges range from grand suspension bridges to tiny wooden trestles, but they all serve as symbols of the distances that must be crossed to reach the people and places that matter most.
The singer expresses a sense of loneliness and estrangement, always feeling like a stranger and always being alone. But he also sees hope in the many bridges he has encountered on his journey. He believes that there is a bridge to tomorrow, a bridge from the past, and even a bridge made of sorrow. Most importantly, he believes in the existence of a bridge made of love, a bridge that will bring him and his beloved together.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are filled with imagery of bridges as both physical structures and metaphors for connection and understanding. The singer's search for something real and meaningful is a universal theme that will resonate with many listeners, and the optimistic message of hope and connection will inspire and uplift those who hear it.
Line by Line Meaning
I have crossed a thousand bridges
Throughout my life, I have taken many paths and routes to find what I am truly looking for.
In my search for something real
I am constantly seeking for genuinely powerful and significant things in life.
There were great suspension bridges
Made like spiderwebs of steel
Along the way, I have come across massive bridges that were intricately designed and constructed to serve its purpose effectively.
There were tiny wooden trestles
And there were bridges made of stone
Aside from the grander ones, I have also had experiences of crossing small wooden bridges and those made of solid rocks.
I have always been a stranger
And I've always been alone
Despite my efforts in exploring different paths, I still often find myself feeling distant from others and being on my own.
There's a bridge to tomorrow
There's a bridge from the past
Whether moving forward or looking back, there are ways to cross that would allow us to reach our possible futures or learn from our past experiences.
There's a bridge made of sorrow
That I pray will not last
Sadness and distress are parts of life that we have to face, but I hope they don't persist for too long and block my way forward.
There's a bridge made of colors
In the sky high above
And I think that there must be
Bridges made out of love
Seeing the beautiful and colorful sky makes me believe that there is an opportunity for love to bridge gaps or connects people.
I can see her in the distance
On the river's other shore
And her hands reach out in longing
As my own have done before
From afar, I caught a glimpse of someone I yearn for, who also seems to want to be with me the way I want to be with them.
And I call across to tell her
Where I believe the bridge must lie
And I'll find it
Yes, I'll find it
If I search until I die
I communicate across the distance to direct them where the bridge is and assure myself that I'll reach it if I keep on looking and trying.
When the bridge is between us
We'll have nothing to fear
We will run through the sunlight
And I'll meet her halfway
Once we've bridged the gap, there's nothing we have to worry about, and we'll run together under bright and happy skies and meet each other halfway.
There's a bridge made of colors
In the sky high above
And I'm certain that somewhere
There's a bridge made of love
Surely, we'll find love and connection that will bridge any distance or gaps that may come.
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.