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.

Eu Pescador
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

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E vamos eu e a solidão
A caminho do mar
Canoa e coração
Deixam pra trás a terra,o cais
Partem buscando vendavais

Ah...meu peito de sonhador
Sábios abismos do amor

Como a canoa, os do mar

Eu que fiz dos meus sonhos, meus navios
Eu que fiz velas de rimas
De canções o meu pesqueiro
Eu que armei redes de estrelas
Ainda espero em tensoes e sereias
Quem ficou de me encontrar...

De sol em sol
Cruzando o mar
Calmaria sonhei
Loucura sã, a paz
De quem provou do querer bem
Mas sopram tantos vendavais

Ah... meu peito de pescador
Sabe que a lua passou
Finda a maré de pescar

Eu que dei os meus sonhos, meus navios
Que troquei mares porfios
Que aportei o meu pesqueiro
Nas paragens do desejo
Ainda guardo para alguém o meu beijo
E adornos de corais

Eu que aportei o meu pesqueiro
Nas paragens do desejo

Ainda guardo para alguém o meu beijo
E adornos...de corais

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Milton Nascimento's song "Eu Pescador" convey the tale of a fisherman who sets out on his canoe to seek adventure in the sea, leaving behind the shores and the people he knew. The song's central theme revolves around the fisherman's obsession with chasing his dreams and desires, even at the cost of leaving behind all that he has ever known. Despite his search for something unknown, the singer acknowledges the dangers and risks that come with the quest, with raging storms and tempests that threaten his journey, and a sense of loneliness that haunts him throughout his voyage. The song's lyrics reflect the singer's profound insight into the human condition, illustrating how one's seemingly uncompromising pursuit of dreams can lead to moments of quiet introspection and reflection that offer little comfort or solace.

Line by Line Meaning

E vamos eu e a solidão
Me and my loneliness are setting out towards the sea

A caminho do mar
On our way to the sea

Canoa e coração
Only with a canoe and a heart

Deixam pra trás a terra,o cais
Leaving behind the land and the pier

Partem buscando vendavais
Departing in search of strong winds

Ah...meu peito de sonhador
Oh...my dreamer's heart

Sábios abismos do amor
Wise abysses of love

Como a canoa, os do mar
Like the canoe of the sea

Eu que fiz dos meus sonhos, meus navios
I turned my dreams into my ships

Eu que fiz velas de rimas
I made sails out of rhymes

De canções o meu pesqueiro
My fishing boat made of songs