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.
Os Povos
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Portão de ferro, aldeia morta, multidão
Meu povo, meu povo
Não quis saber do que é novo, nunca mais
Eh, minha cidade
Aldeia morta, anel de ouro, meu amor
Na beira da vida
Casa iluminada
Portão de ferro, cadeado, coração
E eu reconquistado
Vou passeando, passeando e morrer
Perto de seus olhos
Anel de ouro, aniversário, meu amor
Em minha cidade
A gente aprende a viver só
Ah, um dia, qualquer dia de calor
É sempre mais um dia de lembrar
A cordilheira de sonhos
Que a noite apagou
Eh, minha cidade
Portão de ouro, aldeia morta, solidão
Meu povo, meu povo
Aldeia morta, cadeado, coração
E eu reconquistado
Vou caminhando, caminhando e morrer
Perto de seus olhos
A gente aprende a morrer só
Meu povo, meu povo
Pela cidade a viver só
Meu povo, meu povo
Pela cidade a viver só
The song "Os Povos" by Milton Nascimento opens with a description of a desolate village, surrounded by a wrought-iron gate and a dead crowd, a metaphor for people who refuse to embrace new ideas. The singer addresses his "people" in a mournful tone, expressing disappointment that they have rejected change and innovation.
The second verse paints a picture of the singer's hometown, which he describes as a "dead village" with a golden ring around it. He mentions that although life has led him astray, he will eventually return to die in this place. The third verse depicts a bright, illuminated house inside the gated neighborhood, symbolizing the heart of the people who are unaffected by the outside world. The singer speaks of his renewed love and how it has given him the courage to keep living and wandering.
In the last verse, the singer reflects on the lessons he has learned from his city and his people. He talks about how memories of a lost life and broken dreams that haunt him on hot summer days. The chorus emphasizes the isolation one can experience in the city and how easy it is to die alone when life is disconnected from outside influence. The song ends with an expression of sadness, acknowledging that the people are living alone in the city, and the singer has no choice but to accept it.
Line by Line Meaning
Na beira do mundo
Reflecting on a desolate location or situation, likely far from civilization or connection.
Portão de ferro, aldeia morta, multidão
A scene of abandoned and decayed urban infrastructure, specifically seeing a metal gate, desolate town and a once-populated area in disarray.
Meu povo, meu povo
Appealing to his people, feeling connected to them in this moment of sadness and disconnect from their history or society.
Não quis saber do que é novo, nunca mais
The people have collectively rejected the new or unfamiliar, and will continue to do so indefinitely. This has led to a stagnant way of life.
Eh, minha cidade
Declaring a deep attachment to a specific place that he considers his own, synonymous with his hometown.
Aldeia morta, anel de ouro, meu amor
A commentary on the contrast in a forsaken village with something valuable or beautiful, such as a gold ring, which symbolically shows love and inner richness within a community.
Na beira da vida
The idea of being on the edge of life, feeling that existence is fleeting or transitory.
A gente torna a se encontrar só
Emphasizing the pervasive loneliness in this setting, where individuals are isolated and disconnected from each other or any outside influence.
Casa iluminada
Noticing a particular illuminated building or structure, suggesting that some element of this place is desirable or attractive.
Portão de ferro, cadeado, coração
Seeing an iron gate or fenced off area, symbolizing the strongly controlled and restrictive environment that people are living in that causes a great deal of heartache.
E eu reconquistado
Feeling that he has regained something that has been lost or stolen from him, likely referring to a sense of purpose or belonging.
Vou passeando, passeando e morrer
Going through the motions in a leisurely way, as if there's nothing left to lose or gain, and essentially waiting to die.
Perto de seus olhos
Being near someone he cares about or loves deeply, representing hope and connection in contrast to the pervasive isolation and pain around him.
Anel de ouro, aniversário, meu amor
Similar to the first occurrence, this line again juxtaposes beauty and celebration with the despair and emptiness of the village.
Em minha cidade
Returning to his deep attachment to the place he calls home, reflecting on its contours and difficulties.
A gente aprende a viver só
Reflecting on his feelings of isolation and disconnection, but ultimately seeing it as something universal to the human experience.
Ah, um dia, qualquer dia de calor
Remembering a day of warmth and comfort, likely in the past, when simple pleasures seemed more abundant and attainable.
É sempre mais um dia de lembrar
Reflecting on the tendency to recall memories or important moments with a sense of longing or even regret.
A cordilheira de sonhos
A metaphorical mountain range of dreams, symbolizing places or experiences they once hoped to achieve, but have since given up on or forgotten.
Que a noite apagou
Highlighting the swift and irreversible nature of time passing, how dreams and hopes can vanish in an instant or over the span of a single night.
Portão de ouro, aldeia morta, solidão
Seeing the golden gate again, but now it's abandoned and desolate, embodying the idea that once-beautiful or desirable things can become ruined and empty in absence of life or people.
Meu povo, meu povo
A final appeal to the people living in this place, seeing them not as strangers or adversaries but as his own community he cares about and identifies with.
Aldeia morta, cadeado, coração
Repeating a line from earlier in the song, again highlighting the sense of imprisonment or restriction that people feel in this place, and the resulting emotional pain that comes with it.
E eu reconquistado
Again returning to the idea that he has recovered something that was lost or missing, perhaps symbolizing a sense of hope or purpose for himself and his community.
Vou caminhando, caminhando e morrer
Walking towards a certain and ever-present death, feeling trapped and defeated by the harshness of life.
Pela cidade a viver só
Finalizing the pervasive sense of isolation and loneliness that pervades throughout the entire song, seeing it as something people simply must accept in this place.
Meu povo, meu povo
Repeating the same line as earlier in the song - it is likely important to Nascimento to remind the listener that these are his people and he cares about them, even if they are living in such a difficult place.
Pela cidade a viver só
Reiterating the sense of loneliness and disconnection throughout, focusing on the resilience of the people in this place, as they continue to live on despite the odds against them.
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.