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.
Rosa Do Ventre
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
jogo de alegria, danã clara em seu olhar
ramo de lembranças me ferindo, vou rasgar
eu sei
ruas do tempo, mil fronteiras cruzar
Houve aquele que não viu
que a vida exige ter
Vejo estas serras me guardando longe o mar
velhas avenidas me cercando, vou passar
eu sei, rua do tempo, mil fronteiras cruzar
É sol, noiva me espera, brilha a fronte o olhar
noiva me espera, fere o vento som do mar
noiva me espera na estação do trem chegar
eu vim
seu corpo com meu corpo leve lavar
Rosa de seu ventre, flor
flora no meu sangue a cor
corpo no seu corpo vai
longe as velhas serras e o som dos velhos metais
corpo se descobre a outro corpo e nada mais
eu vim
seu corpo com meu corpo leve lavar
é sol
The lyrics of Milton Nascimento's song "Rosa Do Ventre" describe a journey of self-discovery and a search for identity. The singer remembers his father listening to music in the backyard, with a clear joy in his eyes, while the memories of his past hurt him. He knows that time passes quickly and there are many borders to cross, but he does not want to miss a chance to live life fully. The song continues to describe the singer's journey through old streets and surrounding mountains, as he heads towards the wedding of his dreams, where he is going to be reunited with the woman he loves. The lyrics describe their bodies intertwining, as they discover themselves in each other and find a new sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Meu pai escutava o choro, o som de prata no quintal
My father listened to the sound of the silver cry in the backyard
jogo de alegria, danã clara em seu olhar
He had a glimpse of joy, with a clear dança in his eyes
ramo de lembranças me ferindo, vou rasgar
A memory branch is hurting me, I have to tear it apart
eu sei, ruas do tempo, mil fronteiras cruzar
I know, I have to cross the streets of time and a thousand borders
Houve aquele que não viu
There was one who couldn't see
que a vida exige ter
That life demands to have
só saudade de amanhã
Only longing for tomorrow
Vejo estas serras me guardando longe o mar
I see these mountains protecting me away from the sea
velhas avenidas me cercando, vou passar
Old avenues are surrounding me, but I will go through
eu sei, rua do tempo, mil fronteiras cruzar
I know, I have to cross the streets of time and a thousand borders
É sol, noiva me espera, brilha a fronte o olhar
It's sunny, my bride waits for me, with a bright look on her face
noiva me espera, fere o vento som do mar
My bride waits for me, the sound of the sea wounds the wind
noiva me espera na estação do trem chegar
My bride waits for me at the train station's arrival
eu vim, seu corpo com meu corpo leve lavar
I came to wash your body with mine
Rosa de seu ventre, flor
Rose of your womb, flower
flora no meu sangue a cor
The color of the flower flourishes in my blood
corpo no seu corpo vai
My body joins your body
longe as velhas serras e o som dos velhos metais
Far away are the old mountains and the sound of old metals
corpo se descobre a outro corpo e nada mais
One body uncovers another and nothing else
eu vim, seu corpo com meu corpo leve lavar
I came to wash your body with mine
é sol
It's sunny
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.