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.
Rouxinol
Milton Nascimento Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chegou quando procurei
Razão pra poder seguir
Quando a música ia e quase eu fiquei
Quando a vida chorava mais que eu gritei
Passaro deu a volta ao mundo e brincava
Rouxinol me ensinou que é só não temer
Todos os pássaros, anjos dentro de nós
Uma harmonia trazida dos rouxinóis
The first verse of Milton Nascimento's song Rouxinol talks about how the nightingale (rouxinol) has taken over the singer's life. It came into his life when he was looking for a reason to continue on, perhaps when he was feeling lost or directionless. The nightingale gave him the strength to continue, even when the music threatened to overwhelm him and life was too hard to bear. The singer realized that the nightingale was a symbol of not fearing anything - by singing fearlessly, it found a home in him.
The second verse goes on to explain that the nightingale taught the singer that there's nothing to fear. It sang and found a place in him, indicating that perhaps it's easier to overcome our fears and anxieties when we let ourselves be vulnerable and open to what's around us. The lyrics reference "Todos os pássaros, anjos dentro de nós" - all the birds, angels inside of us - which suggests that there's an underlying harmony within us, one that the nightingale's song brings forth.
Overall, the song speaks to how we can find comfort and inspiration in unexpected places, just like the singer found solace in the nightingale's song.
Line by Line Meaning
Rouxinol tomou conta do meu viver
The nightingale took over my life.
Chegou quando procurei
It arrived when I searched.
Razão pra poder seguir
A reason to keep going.
Quando a música ia e quase eu fiquei
When the music was playing and I almost stayed.
Quando a vida chorava mais que eu gritei
When life was crying more than I was screaming.
Passaro deu a volta ao mundo e brincava
The bird went around the world and played.
Rouxinol me ensinou que é só não temer
Nightingale taught me that it's just not to fear.
Cantou se hospedou em mim
He sang, stayed in me.
Todos os pássaros, anjos dentro de nós
All the birds, angels within us.
Uma harmonia trazida dos rouxinóis
A harmony brought from the nightingales.
Contributed by Ellie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.