A Ciência Em Si

Song Meaning

Gilberto Gil's "Opening" isn't just a song; it's a concise philosophical treatise set to music. The lyrics, sung in Portuguese, are a meditation on the nature of knowledge, experience, and the relentless human drive to understand the universe. Gil doesn't present answers; instead, he layers questions that probe the relationship between coincidence, legend, science, and myth. The opening lines suggest that coincidences yearn for understanding, while legends strive for tangible grounding, hinting at a deeper connection between the abstract and the concrete. This sets the stage for a exploration of scientific inquiry. Gil cleverly contrasts the conventional view of science as something learned or taught with a more intrinsic understanding. He posits that "A ciência não se aprende / A ciência apreende / A ciência em si"—science isn't learned, but apprehended; it exists within itself. This reframes science not merely as a body of knowledge, but as an inherent human capacity for grasping reality. The lyrics then introduce the interplay between the tangible and the intangible, the measurable and the immeasurable, evoking imagery from "avião a jato ao jaboti" (jet planes to tortoises) and contrasting them with the boundlessness of eternal sleep and becoming. The core of the song delves into the dynamic tension between belief and experience. Gil sings, "Se a crença quer se materializar / Tanto quanto a experiência quer se abstrair"—if belief seeks to materialize as much as experience seeks to abstract. This captures the essence of the human condition: the constant negotiation between faith and empirical observation. The song culminates by suggesting that science doesn't merely advance but "alcança"—it reaches, attains, or grasps. This subtle distinction emphasizes the cyclical, almost spiritual nature of scientific pursuit, a continuous reaching for truths that, in some sense, are already present, waiting to be discovered. In "Opening," Gil invites us to ponder the very act of knowing, urging us to recognize the inherent, almost mystical, quality of scientific inquiry.