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.
Peixinhos Do Mar
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gente que vem pelo mar
Laço de fita amarela
Na ponta da vela
No meio do mar
Ei nós, que viemos
De outras terras, de outro mar
Nós queremos é guerrear
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Foi, foi marinheiro
Foi os peixinhos do mar
Ei nós, que viemos
De outras terras, de outro mar
Temos pólvora, chumbo e bala
Nós queremos é guerrear
The lyrics of Milton Nascimento's song Peixinhos do Mar talk about people coming from different lands through Lisbon and the sea. The yellow ribbon tied at the tip of the sail in the middle of the sea represents hope, safety, and coming home. The song talks about wars and how people come with weapons like gunpowder, lead, and bullets, to fight. The lyrics seem to suggest that even though people come from different places and have different intentions, the sea connects them all.
The chorus talks about how he learned to swim, and it was not a sailor who taught him but the little sea fish. This indicates that nature is the ultimate teacher and provider of life. The lyrics come together to represent the sea as a connecting force between people, their history, and their cultures, independent of their intentions. This connection becomes stronger the more people enter or leave the area, which represents the unifying force of the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Gente que vem de Lisboa
People who come from Lisbon
Gente que vem pelo mar
People who come by sea
Laço de fita amarela
Yellow ribbon bow
Na ponta da vela
At the tip of the sail
No meio do mar
In the middle of the sea
Ei nós, que viemos
Hey, we who came
De outras terras, de outro mar
From other lands, from another sea
Temos pólvora, chumbo e bala
We have gunpowder, lead, and bullets
Nós queremos é guerrear
We want to wage war
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Who taught me to swim
Foi, foi marinheiro
It was, it was a sailor
Foi os peixinhos do mar
It was the little fishes of the sea
Contributed by Dylan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@75DAF
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Foi , foi marinheiro
Foi os peixinhos do mar
Ei nós , que viemos
De outras terras , de outre par
Temps pólvora , chumbo e bala
Nós queremos é guerrear
@leandrodevanei5321
Eu choro muito quando escuto essa música, me lembra uma época muito difícil mas eu era feliz 😢😢😢❤❤❤
@MrCecionline
Trabalhando essa música em aula remota com minhas crianças do segundo aninho. Amo Milton Nascimento! Viva a música brasileira!🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵
@guilhermealbuquerque97
Tenho 14 Anos e ouço essas musicas maravilhosas, essa é a verdadeira cultura brasileira
@khahenna
Parabéns! Você escolheu a melhor parte
@italomeneses997
Escolheu o melhoe do mundi
@JrJefersonator
Essa canção é uma obra prima, viva Milton Nascimento!! 🙏🎣🎏🔰
@75DAF
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Quem me ensinou a nadar
Foi , foi marinheiro
Foi os peixinhos do mar
Ei nós , que viemos
De outras terras , de outre par
Temps pólvora , chumbo e bala
Nós queremos é guerrear
@karinasouza1222
Meu avô cantava para os netos 😢 aí que adoro ouvi e lembra dele
@nohaynombrelibreeeee
Milton, el más grande! No había oído esta hermosa canción desde hacía décadas. Me sacó lágrimas de alegría y de hermosura ♥
@nivaldosales1115
Cultura Brasileira que faz meu coração bater mais forte!