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.
Paixão e fé
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
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Já bate o sino, bate na catedral
E o som penetra todos os portais
A igreja está chamando seus fiéis
Para rezar por seu Senhor
Para cantar a ressureição
De areia e flores as pedras do chão
Nas varandas vejo as moças e os lençóis
Enquanto passa a procissão
Louvando as coisas da fé
Velejar, velejei
No mar do Senhor
Lá eu vi a fé e a paixão
Lá eu vi a agonia da barca dos homens
Velejar, velejei
No mar do Senhor
Lá eu vi a fé e a paixão
Lá eu vi a agonia da barca dos homens
Já bate o sino, bate no coração
E o povo põe de lado a sua dor
Pelas ruas capistranas de toda cor
Esquece a sua paixão
Para viver a do Senhor
Velejar, velejei
No mar do Senhor
Lá eu vi a fé e a paixão
Lá eu vi a agonia da barca dos homens
Velejar, velejei
No mar do Senhor
Lá eu vi a fé e a paixão
Lá eu vi a agonia da barca dos homens
In the song "Paixão E Fé" by Milton Nascimento, the lyrics open with the repetitive and emotive sound of "Oh, oh, oh, oh oh," setting a contemplative and reverent tone. The imagery immediately shifts to a scene where the church bells are ringing, resonating through the cathedral and reaching all its portals. This visual sets the stage for a spiritual calling, as the church beckons its faithful followers to come and pray to their Lord and sing of resurrection. The mention of the church gathering its congregation to celebrate faith and revival highlights the importance of religious devotion and community worship.
The depiction continues as the people spill out into the streets, covering the ground with sand and flowers, illustrating a tangible expression of reverence and devotion. The sight of young women on balconies with white sheets adds a poetic touch, enhancing the ceremonial atmosphere as a procession passes by, praising the beliefs of the faithful. This scene evokes a sense of unity and tradition, where individuals come together to honor their shared faith and partake in the rituals of their belief system.
The recurring motif of sailing on the sea of the Lord emerges in the lyrics, symbolizing a journey of faith and passion. The singer reflects on witnessing both faith and passion, as well as the agony experienced by humanity on their metaphorical boat. This analogy signifies a profound spiritual experience, where the individual navigates the tumultuous waters of life and finds solace and strength in their steadfast belief in something greater than themselves. The ocean becomes a metaphorical landscape of religious exploration and introspection, where one encounters both the depths of faith and the intensity of human emotion.
As the song progresses, the church bells continue to ring, resonating in the hearts of the people and prompting them to set aside their sorrows. The lyric describes the streets adorned in vibrant colors, with the inhabitants embracing the joy and unity that comes from celebrating the passion of their shared faith. The act of collectively forgetting personal woes in order to fully immerse in the devotion to the Lord signifies a powerful sense of communal solidarity and religious fervor. The song's refrain of sailing in the sea of the Lord reinforces the theme of spiritual journey, encapsulating the profound experiences of faith, passion, and human struggle that are central to the narrative of "Paixão E Fé" by Milton Nascimento.
Line by Line Meaning
Já bate o sino, bate na catedral
The bells are ringing, echoing in the cathedral
E o som penetra todos os portais
And the sound penetrates all the portals
A igreja está chamando seus fiéis
The church is calling its faithful
Para rezar por seu Senhor
To pray for their Lord
Para cantar a ressureição
To sing the resurrection
E sai o povo pelas ruas a cobrir
And the people go out to cover the streets
De areia e flores as pedras do chão
With sand and flowers the stones on the ground
Nas varandas vejo as moças e os lençóis
On the balconies, I see the girls and the sheets
Enquanto passa a procissão
While the procession passes by
Louvando as coisas da fé
Praising the things of faith
Já bate o sino, bate no coração
The bells are ringing, beating in the heart
E o povo põe de lado a sua dor
And the people put aside their pain
Pelas ruas capistranas de toda cor
Through the streets in all colors
Esquece a sua paixão
Forgets their passion
Para viver a do Senhor
To live for the Lord's passion
Velejar, velejei
To sail, I sailed
No mar do Senhor
In the sea of the Lord
Lá eu vi a fé e a paixão
There I saw faith and passion
Lá eu vi a agonia da barca dos homens
There I saw the agony of men's boat
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fernando Brant, Tavinho Moura
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind