Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer… Read Full Bio ↴Milton Nascimento (born 26 October, 1942) is a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitarist, who is considered one of the foremost icons of Brazilian popular music. His work spans a multitude of genres, from contemporary folk to jazz, and is often rooted in the traditional and indigenous music of the country.

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.

Testamento
Milton Nascimento Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Um dia joguem minhas cinzas
Na corrente desse rio
E plantem meu adubo
Na semente de meu filho
Cuidem bem de minha esposa
Do amigo, do ninho
E do presente que foi prometido
Pro ano seguinte

Na reserva desse índio
Clamo forte por clareira
Soprem meus sentidos
Pela vida que descubro
Cuidem bem de minha casa
Tão cheia, meninos
Tome conta de aquilo tudo
Em que acredito

Juntem todas minhas cinzas
Ao poema desse rio
E plantem meu adubo
Na semente de meu povo
Cuidem bem de minha esposa
Do amigo, do ninho
E do presente que foi prometido
Pro ano seguinte

Na reserva desse índio
Clamo forte por um rio
Soprem meus sentidos
Pela vida de meu filho
Cuidem bem de minha casa
Tão cheia, meninos
Tome conta de aquilo tudo
Em que acredito

E juntem todas minhas cinzas
Ao poema desse povo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Testamento by Milton Nascimento express the wishes of the singer for what should happen after their death. The singer requests that their ashes be thrown into the river and that their remains be used to fertilize their child's future growth. They ask that their loved ones, including their wife and friend, be taken care of and that promises made to them be kept. The singer also voices a desire to be close to indigenous land and for their senses to be "blown" into the discovery of new life. Lastly, they ask that their remains be joined in the river's poem and be used to fertilize the growth of their people.

The song is a poignant and beautifully written message reflecting on life's end and what comes after. The river is used as a symbol of life and continuity, with the ashes becoming part of the river's poem and the cycle of life. The lyrics suggest a desire for connection and gratitude to the earth and its people.

Line by Line Meaning

Um dia joguem minhas cinzas
When I'm gone, scatter my ashes

Na corrente desse rio
Let them flow in the currents of this river

E plantem meu adubo
And let them fertilize

Na semente de meu filho
The seeds of my child

Cuidem bem de minha esposa
Take good care of my wife

Do amigo, do ninho
Of my friend, of our home

E do presente que foi prometido
And of the promise we made

Pro ano seguinte
For the next year

Na reserva desse índio
In the reservation of this indigenous people

Clamo forte por clareira
I call loudly for a clearing

Soprem meus sentidos
Blow my senses