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.
O Rouxinol
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do meu viver
Chegou quando procurei
Razгo pra poder seguir
Quando a mъsica ia
E quase eu fiquei
Quando a vida chorava
Mais que eu gritei
Deu a volta ao mundo
E brincava
Rouxinol me ensinou
Que й sу nгo temer
Cantou
Se hospedou em mim
(2x):
Todos os pбssaros
Anjos dentro de nуs
Uma harmonia trazida
Dos rouxinуis
The lyrics of O Rouxinol reflect on the importance of music and how it can bring us comfort and guidance in times of need. The rouxinol (nightingale) is a metaphorical representation of this idea, taking over the singer's life and providing him with the reason to continue on his path. The rouxinol comes at a moment when the singer was searching for direction and almost gave up, but the bird's song gave him the motivation to carry on.
The rouxinol, however, is not just a source of inspiration but also a symbol of resilience. As the singer points out, the bird has traveled the world and played around, despite the challenges it must have faced. This serves as an example that we should not fear the difficulties that life presents us but rather confront them with courage and determination. The rouxinol's song has lodged itself within the singer, becoming a part of him and inspiring him to find harmony within himself.
Overall, O Rouxinol is a song about finding hope and a reason to continue through the difficult times in life. It speaks of the power of music and how it can bring us together, highlighting the beauty in the world and giving us the strength to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Rouxinol tomou conta
The Nightingale took hold of my life
Do meu viver
Influenced every aspect of my life
Chegou quando procurei
Appeared when I was searching
Razгo pra poder seguir
Provided a reason to keep going
Quando a mъsica ia
When the music died down
E quase eu fiquei
And I almost gave up
Quando a vida chorava
When life was crying
Mais que eu gritei
More than I screamed
Pбssaro
Bird
Deu a volta ao mundo
Traveled around the world
E brincava
And played
Rouxinol me ensinou
The Nightingale taught me
Que й sу nгo temer
That all I have to do is not fear
Cantou
Sang
Se hospedou em mim
Took residence within me
(2x):
Repeat next two lines twice
Todos os pбssaros
All the birds
Anjos dentro de nуs
Angels inside of us
Uma harmonia trazida
A harmony brought
Dos rouxinуis
By the Nightingales
Contributed by Victoria P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.