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.
Fé Cega Faca Amolada
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
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cgora não espero mais aquela madrugada
Vai ser, vai ser, vai ter de ser, vai ser faca amolada
O brilho cego de paixão e fé, faca amolada
Deixar a sua luz brilhar e ser muito tranquilo
Deixar o seu amor crescer e ser muito tranquilo
Brilhar, brilhar, acontecer, brilhar, faca amolada
Plantar o trigo e refazer o pão de cada dia
(Plantar o trigo e refazer o pão de todo dia)
Beber o vinho e renascer na luz de todo dia
(Beber o vinho e renascer na luz de cada dia)
c fé, a fé, paixão e fé, a fé, faca amolada
O chão, o chão, o sal da terra, o chão, faca amolada
Deixar a sua luz brilhar no pão de todo dia
Deixar o seu amor crescer na luz de cada dia
Vai ser, vai ser, vai ter de ser, vai ser muito tranquilo
O brilho cego de paixão e fé, faca amolada
The lyrics of Milton Nascimento's song "Fé Cega Faca Amolada" speak to themes of faith, passion, and acceptance. The first verse conveys a sense of letting go of the need to know where the road will lead and the longing for a particular moment to come. The repetition of "faca amolada" (sharpened knife) suggests an acceptance of the challenges and difficulties that may come with following one's passion and faith. The blind brightness of passion and faith gives the singer the strength to face these trials.
The second verse encourages the listener to let their light shine and to allow their love to grow, emphasizing the importance of staying calm and peaceful in this process. The repetition of "faca amolada" in the second verse further emphasizes the need to be sharp and focused in order to manifest one's faith. The inclusion of "irmão, irmã" (brother, sister) suggests a sense of community and solidarity among those who share the same faith and desire to cultivate their passion.
The third verse speaks to the importance of nurturing and sustaining oneself, symbolically represented by planting wheat and making bread. It also alludes to the act of rejuvenation and spiritual rebirth through the metaphor of drinking wine and finding new light each day. The repetition of "fé, a fé" (faith, the faith) emphasizes the essential role of faith in guiding one's everyday life. The ground, represented by "o chão" and "o sal da terra" (the salt of the earth), grounds the singer and provides a solid foundation for their faith and passion.
Overall, "Fé Cega Faca Amolada" encourages the listener to embrace their faith, follow their passion, and face the challenges that may arise with determination and tranquility. It emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the importance of community and self-nurturing in this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
cgora não pergunto mais pra onde vai a estrada
Now I no longer ask where the road is heading
cgora não espero mais aquela madrugada
Now I no longer wait for that dawn
Vai ser, vai ser, vai ter de ser, vai ser faca amolada
It will happen, it will have to happen, like a sharpened knife
O brilho cego de paixão e fé, faca amolada
The blind shine of passion and faith, like a sharpened knife
Deixar a sua luz brilhar e ser muito tranquilo
Let your light shine and be very calm
Deixar o seu amor crescer e ser muito tranquilo
Let your love grow and be very calm
Brilhar, brilhar, acontecer, brilhar, faca amolada
Shine, shine, happen, shine, like a sharpened knife
Irmão, irmã, irmã, irmão de fé, faca amolada
Brother, sister, sister, brother of faith, like a sharpened knife
Plantar o trigo e refazer o pão de cada dia
Plant the wheat and remake the bread every day
Beber o vinho e renascer na luz de todo dia
Drink the wine and be reborn in the light of every day
c fé, a fé, paixão e fé, a fé, faca amolada
With faith, the faith, passion and faith, the faith, like a sharpened knife
O chão, o chão, o sal da terra, o chão, faca amolada
The ground, the ground, the salt of the earth, the ground, like a sharpened knife
Deixar a sua luz brilhar no pão de todo dia
Let your light shine in the bread of every day
Deixar o seu amor crescer na luz de cada dia
Let your love grow in the light of each day
Vai ser, vai ser, vai ter de ser, vai ser muito tranquilo
It will happen, it will have to happen, and it will be very calm
O brilho cego de paixão e fé, faca amolada
The blind shine of passion and faith, like a sharpened knife
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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