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.
Primeiro de Maio
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
E ele apressa a caminhada
Pra acordar a namorada logo ali
E vai sorrindo, vai aflito
Pra mostrar, cheio de si
Que hoje ele é senhor das suas mãos
E das ferramentas
Ela acorda mais bonita
Sua pele é sua chita, seu fustão
E, bem ou mal, é o seu veludo
É o tafetá que Deus lhe deu
E é bendito o fruto do suor
Do trabalho que é só seu
Hoje eles hão de consagrar
O dia inteiro pra se amar tanto
Ele, o artesão
Faz dentro dela a sua oficina
E ela, a tecelã
Vai fiar nas malhas do seu ventre
O homem de amanhã
The song Primeiro de Maio by Milton Nascimento talks about a man who wakes up early in the morning and walks through the quiet city streets to wake up his girlfriend. He is proud of his work and his tools, and wants to show her that he is the master of his own hands. Meanwhile, the girlfriend wakes up and admires her own beauty, thankful for the fruits of her labor. The lyrics suggest that they will spend the entire day together, celebrating their love and their respective professions - he as a craftsman and she as a weaver.
The song is a celebration of the annual Labor Day holiday, May 1st, which is a national holiday in Brazil. It reflects the importance of work and the pride that comes with it. The lyrics remind us that work is not just a means to an end, but rather a source of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. The song also highlights the beauty and dignity of simple, everyday work, often overlooked or undervalued in our society.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoje a cidade está parada
Today the city is still and quiet
E ele apressa a caminhada
And he hurries his steps
Pra acordar a namorada logo ali
To wake up his girlfriend just over there
E vai sorrindo, vai aflito
And he goes smiling, yet anxious
Pra mostrar, cheio de si
To show, full of himself
Que hoje ele é senhor das suas mãos
That today he is the master of his hands
E das ferramentas
And the tools
Quando a sirene não apita
When the siren doesn't sound
Ela acorda mais bonita
She wakes up more beautiful
Sua pele é sua chita, seu fustão
Her skin is her chita, her fustão
E, bem ou mal, é o seu veludo
And, for better or for worse, it is her velvet
É o tafetá que Deus lhe deu
It is the taffeta that God gave her
E é bendito o fruto do suor
And blessed is the fruit of her labor
Do trabalho que é só seu
Of the work that is hers alone
Hoje eles hão de consagrar
Today, they will consecrate
O dia inteiro pra se amar tanto
The whole day to love each other so much
Ele, o artesão
He, the artisan
Faz dentro dela a sua oficina
Creates his workshop inside her
E ela, a tecelã
And she, the weaver
Vai fiar nas malhas do seu ventre
Will weave in the meshes of her womb
O homem de amanhã
The man of tomorrow
Contributed by Noah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronaldmarques5910
Todo Primeiro de Maio estou aqui... 2023
Viva Chico prêmio Calmos mais que merecido.
@silverfvm
Feliz dia do trabalho pessoal
@gabrielgpiva1
Essa música me dá até arrepio de tão linda que é e tão elaborada! Esses caras simplesmente são uns grandes monstros da música.
@JoseCarlos-ho3qf
Linda demais!!.
@orestesdeoliveirafilho1093
CHICO&MILTOM ... é ouvir e ... aplaudir !!!
@joserobertocordeiro6697
Encontro de gênios, tudo perfeito, mas Beto Guedes está maravilhoso no bandolim!
Sou grato pelo show proporcionado por tantos mestres da MPB.
@MyFabrito
Que melodia! Que letra! Também, a união do Milton com o Chico só poderia resultar numa obra-prima... Salve, Milton! Salve, Chico!
@psantosdacunha
Hoje é dia primeiro de Maio! 🌹
@PauloSGM
Meu Deus... Meu Deus! Que música é essa? Muita genialidade desses caras...
@MarceloFernandez1967
Lembro desse compacto.