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.
Cravo e Canela
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
The song "Cravo e canela" by Milton Nascimento is a beautiful and poetic tribute to the rich cultural heritage of Brazil. The song begins with the question of who seasoned a dish with the sweet and spicy aroma of cloves - was it the dark-skinned woman (morena) or the gypsy woman (cigana)? The scent of the cloves evokes a sense of nostalgia and mystery, and the question suggests that there is something special and unique about the way in which the food is seasoned in Brazil.
The lyrics then focus on other sensory experiences that are associated with Brazil, such as the warm color of cinnamon, the deep brown hue of the moon, and the movement of the wind. The night is described as having a belly (ventre), which creates an image of a living and breathing entity. The sun and rain are personified as gypsy and cinnamon, respectively, adding to the mystical and magical atmosphere of the song.
The final stanza brings together all of the elements mentioned earlier - the sound of the woods, the taste of the cloves, the color of cinnamon stone, and the dance of the rivers - and weaves them into a seamless tapestry of Brazilian culture and identity. The song celebrates the richness and diversity of Brazil, and invites the listener to join in the joyous celebration of life and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Morena quem temperou?
Who seasoned the brown-skinned girl?
Cigana quem temperou?
Who seasoned the gypsy?
O cheiro do cravo
The smell of the clove
Cigana quem temperou?
Who seasoned the gypsy?
Morena quem temperou?
Who seasoned the brown-skinned girl?
A cor de canela
The color of cinnamon
A lua morena
The brown moon
A dan do vento
The dance of the wind
O ventre da noite
The belly of the night
E o sol da manh chuva cigana
And the gypsy rain morning sun
A dan dos rios
The dance of the rivers
O mel do cacau
The honey of the cocoa
E o sol da manh he luna morena
And the morning sun is a brown moon
The sound of the woods
O som da floresta
The taste of the clove
O sabor do cravo
Cinnamon stone
Pedra de canela
The rainy cigana
The rainy gypsy
The dance of the rivers
A dança dos rios
The taste of the clove
O sabor do cravo
Cinnamon stone
Pedra de canela
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ronaldo Bastos, Milton Silva Campos Nascimento
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dani Martins
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Katharina Laborê
Cravo e Canela - Milton Nascimento
Ê morena, quem temperou
Cigana quem temperou
O cheiro do cravo?
Ê cigana, quem temperou
Morena quem temperou
A cor de canela?
A Lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
O Sol da manhã
A chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o Sol da manhã
Ê morena, quem temperou
Cigana quem temperou
O cheiro do cravo?
Ê menina, quem temperou
Cigana quem temperou
A cor de canela?
Ê morena, quem temperou
Cigana quem temperou
O cheiro do cravo?
Ê cigana, quem temperou
Morena quem temperou
A cor de canela?
Composição: Milton Nascimento / Ronaldo Bastos
Anicca
Sou mineira e não sei o que é "ser mineira" sem Milton Nascimento, sem o Clube da Esquina. Milton é nossa jóia mineira, Milton é uma Entidade, Milton é estrela de primeiríssima grandeza!
Alcione J. Silva
Ele é o carioca mais mineiro que existe! Milton nasceu na Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. Mas adotou este estado tão maravilhoso que é Minas Gerais ♥️🔺.
Christian Erazo
La maravillosa música brasilera!!Saludos a los hermanos brasileros un abrazo desde Colombia! Gracias Brasil por la mejor música del mundo!
Bruce Howard
This is a brilliant album and one of Milton's most spirited songs. So glad Wayne Shorter introduced him to the likes of Herbie Hancock and others. Milton is a gem from Brazil, the purist and most soulful voice and songwriter I have ever heard.
Huus67209 Huus67209
I have this album and I agree. It's a very good album this and clube esquina
Guilherme Videira
You both should try another Milton albums, like "Milagre dos Peixes" (1973) and Geraes (1976), or even albums by another brazillian artists like Jards Macalé's self-titled álbum (1972), Itamar Assumpção's 1980 debut, "Beleléu Leléu Eu", or Luiz Melodia's 1973 debut, "Pérola Negra".
Valeria Bruno
Pm
isabel m.
T
badiraha
I walked into a record store and spied this album, bought it and never looked back. Love Milton more than words!
Dani Martins
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
A lua morena
A dança do vento
O ventre da noite
E o sol da manhã
Chuva cigana
A dança dos rios
O mel do cacau
E o sol da manhã
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo
Cigana quem temperou?
Morena quem temperou?
A cor de canela
Morena quem temperou?
Cigana quem temperou?
O cheiro do cravo