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.

Milagre dos Peixes Suite
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

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Eu vejo esses peixes e vou de coração
Eu vejo essas matas e vou de coração à natureza

Telas falam colorido de crianças coloridas
De um gênio televisor
E no andor de nossos novos santos
O sinal de velhos tempos
Morte, morte, morte ao amor

Eles não falam do mar e dos peixes
Nem deixam ver a moça, pura canção
Nem ver nascer a flor, nem ver nascer o Sol
E eu apenas sou um a mais, um a mais
A falar dessa dor, a nossa dor

Desenhando nessas pedras
Tenho em mim todas as cores
Quando falo coisas reais
E no silêncio dessa natureza
Eu que amo meus amigos
Livre, quero poder dizer
Eu tenho esses peixes e dou de coração
Tenho essas matas e dou de coração

Eu tenho esses peixes e dou de coração
Eu tenho essas matas e dou de coração

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Milton Nascimento's song "Milagre dos Peixes Suite" express deep love and appreciation for nature, particularly the sea and its fish. The singer sees the vivid colors of children and a genius television through screens, and the symbol of old times in the new saints' litter. However, all he can speak of is the pain of their mortality and the lack of acknowledgment for the sea and its inhabitants, the purity of song, the birth of flowers, and the rising of the sun. Nonetheless, he proudly declares his willingness to give with a wholehearted heart, the fish and the forests that he possesses.

The song conveys a profound message of the significance of preserving and appreciating the environment. Through the singer's poeticized words, the listener realizes the preciousness of nature and the consequences of its degradation. The singer also reveals a sense of alienation from the world's materialistic culture, connecting only to nature's tranquility and silence. In essence, "Milagre dos Peixes Suite" is a call to action, urging people to recognize the earth's beauty and safeguard it for future generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Eu vejo esses peixes e vou de coração
I see these fish and my heart is drawn to nature

Telas falam colorido de crianças coloridas
Screens speak in colors of colorful children

De um gênio televisor
Of a television genius

E no andor de nossos novos santos
And in the procession of our new saints

O sinal de velhos tempos
A sign of old times

Morte, morte, morte ao amor
Death, death, death to love

Eles não falam do mar e dos peixes
They don't speak of the sea and the fish

Nem deixam ver a moça, pura canção
Nor let us see the girl, pure song

Nem ver nascer a flor, nem ver nascer o Sol
Nor see the flower bloom, nor see the sun rise

E eu apenas sou um a mais, um a mais
And I am just one more, one more

A falar dessa dor, a nossa dor
Speaking of this pain, our pain