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.

Canoa Canoa
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Canoa canoa desce
No meio do rio Araguaia desce
No meio da noite alta da floresta
Levando a solidão e a coragem
Dos homens que são
Ava avacanoê
Ava avacanoê
Avacanoeiro prefere as águas

Avacanoeiro prefere o rio
Avacanoeiro prefere os peixes
Avacanoeiro prefere remar
Ava prefere pescar
Ava prefere pescar
Dourado, arraia, grumatá
Piracará, pira-andirá

Jatuarana, taiabucu
Piracanjuba, peixe-mulher
Avacanoeiro quer viver
Avacanoeiro só quer pescar

Dourado, arraia e grumatá
Piracanjuba, peixe mulher

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Canoa Canoa" describe a canoe traveling down the Araguaia River in the middle of the night, carrying with it the solitude and courage of the men who are "Ava avacanoê." The chorus repeats the words "Ava avacanoê," which has been translated to mean "people of the canoe" or "we who are of the canoe." The verses highlight the preference of the canoe and its people for the river and its resources - fish in particular. The different types of fish mentioned in the song, such as dourado and piracanjuba, are specific to the region and add to the sense of place and culture. The repetition of the phrase "Avacanoeiro prefere" (the canoeist prefers) emphasizes the deep connection between the canoe and the river, and the simple way of life that is characterized by fishing and being in nature.

Line by Line Meaning

Canoa canoa desce
The canoe descends down the river.

No meio do rio Araguaia desce
It is going down the middle of river Araguaia.

No meio da noite alta da floresta
It's happening in the middle of the high forest night.

Levando a solidão e a coragem
Taking with it loneliness and courage.

Dos homens que são
Of the men that are in it.

Ava avacanoê
Ava, avacanoê.

Avacanoeiro prefere as águas
The canoeist prefers the waters.

Avacanoeiro prefere o rio
The canoeist prefers the river.

Avacanoeiro prefere os peixes
The canoeist prefers the fishes.

Avacanoeiro prefere remar
The canoeist prefers to row.

Ava prefere pescar
Ava prefers to fish.