Edson Gomes

The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features Edson Gomes, a Brazilian musician. This edition is unique because of the English interpretations of his lyrics.

Working in Brazil for a while, in Bahia, the state where Edson Gomes was born and grew into the Reggae musician that he is today, I could not ignore adding him to the Roots Reggae Library. His music is energetic, inspiring, and beautifully composed. For the interpretation of quite a number of songs I was assisted by a friend from Cruz Das Almas, Laura Alice Ribeiro da Silva.

Edson Gomes - Reggae Resistência

01. Sistema Do Vampiro
02. Malandrinha
03. Rastafari
04. Viu
05. Cão De Raça
06. Na Sombra Da Noite
07. Samarina
08. Hereditário
09. História Do Brasil
10. Leve Sensação 









Edson Gomes released his first album in 1988. My intention is to translate the title of each song and describe what Edson sings about. The first song is called 'Sistema Do Vampiro' which is the 'Vampire System', grieving and sucking live out of the people. He does not sing "vampire system" literally, but sings "the system is a vampire". Living in the slums, possessing nothing, not even an address he asks God for help. We also get a first introduction with Edson's favourite way of singing "oi oi oi oi". The second song is about a desirable woman that Edson would like to make his, 'Malandrinha'. It is not the name, but rather the term for a flirtatious woman, she stole his heart. The song 'Rastafari' was originally spelled 'Rastafary' by Edson Gomes, but I see no reason why the Portuguese word should be spelled differently. He sings how Reggae music is pure beauty. It was born in Jamaica and has spread over the world. Jah has sent us Bob Marley, and his music should never die.  To me these first three tracks on this album are pure gold. The next song has a slightly different style. 'Viu' means "see". He tells us we have to end all the violence, pain and sadness in this world, because everyone needs some space and a place to live in peace. 'Cão De Raça' is a good example of how a song can sound very nice, while its lyrics are actually quite sad. This can form a problem when the lyrics are in a foreign language. That is why you are reading this page. 'Cão De Raça' is a "dog race". The song tells how political leaders give false promises, "lost words", to come up with solutions for the drought that is killing people in the country. People are drinking mud, waiting for a solution. Cão De Raça is also the name of the band that plays the music on this album. Things happen in the shadow of the night, 'Na Sombra Da Noite', and who is not asleep at night or during the dawn will see it happening. I love the way in which Edson expresses the title of the song. He follows up with a song for the beautiful 'Samarina'. Samarina is about to leave him and he cannot stand the idea of being alone. 'Hereditário' means "heredity" and he sings how his father was a hardworking man, sweat on his face, a tired body but nothing in his pocket. The history of Brazil, 'História Do Brasil'. Gomes presents it as a sad history. Discovered for the Portuguese by Pedro Álvares Cabral, it left the country many years of slavery. And he feels Brazil has never really left this feeling of inferiority. 'Leve Sensação' is Edson's version of 'I Shot The Sheriff' by Bob Marley, literally translated as "mild sensation". The lyrics do not represent a literal translation of 'I Shot The Sheriff', it is only the music of the Bob Marley song that is being used. He sings about how he permanent has the feeling of being watched, which gives him this mild sensation. I find it a very nice version of the song. The album art of Reggae Resistência, "Reggae Resistence", circulating the internet often has the upper side of the picture missing and lacks good colour quality. Thanks to Johnson Mushingwa, the album art of this album on the Roots Reggae Library is of supreme quality.



Edson Gomes - Recôncavo

01. Adultério
02. Lili
03. Louvor A Jah
04. Recôncavo
05. Fala Só De Amor
06. Estrangeiro
07. Guerreiro Do Terceiro Mundo
08. Filho Da Terra
09. Guerra
10. Capturados









Two years later, Recôncavo appeared. Recôncavo Baiano is a region within the state of Bahia. It comprises of Bahia's capital Salvador, of Edson's birthplace Cachoeira, as well as the place where I am currently writing this, Cruz das Almas. In the first song he sings how politicians want to inject unconsciousness using the lie of democracy. This is what he means with "adultery", 'Adultério'. A pretty accurate way of describing politics in Brazil. Violence in the towns, no one has ever seen real freedom. Luckily there is Reggae music to ease the pain. He calls to fight for this freedom in 'Lili', where he sings how they end up losing what they had already won. The album really gets going when 'Louvor A Jah' kicks in, "praise Jah", where he even utters in English "forever Jah". He praises Jah for giving him strength when he had none, and for giving him shelter. I have mentioned the name of the album, and we now find the title track, 'Recôncavo'. The majority of the African-Brazilian slave trade was concentrated in Salvador, Bahia. The predominant skin colour of Bahianos is therefore black. So it is no wonder that 'Recôncavo' is a song about the freedom of the black man in the America's, and for African freedom. He sings that Apartheid is Nazism, as Alpha Blondy sang. It is the system of the Devil. 'Louvor A Jah' and 'Recôncavo' are two beautiful songs. The bass guitar in 'Recôncavo' carries a strong vibe. No matter how strong a man is, everyone has his love, so now "speak only of love", 'Fala Só De Amor'. Edson knows he is a Brasilian but he feels as if he was a 'Estrangeiro', a "foreigner". He lives in the slums, finds himself in filthy alleys, and he looks like an African. 'Guerreiro Do Terceiro Mundo' was the first Edson Gomes song that really got to me, while I was spending time in Lauro de Freitas, north of Salvador. "Warrior of the thirld world", living in despair, nothing to eat, overcrowding prisons and favelas. Edson wants to fight for these people and gives a wake-up call to everyone. "Be natural" and be a "son of the earth", um 'Filho Da Terra'. But some people do not understand, because they keep on destroying the earth. I have already moved on to the next song, 'Guerra', which means "war". War causes despair and it spreads sadness. Tears come to his eyes thinking about the blood being shed and the people being sacrificed while war is being promoted around the world. 'Capturados' continues on slave descendence described earlier. "We are children of slaves, we are not ashamed to assume this. We are children of the captured, we are not afraid to admit". For me this is the best song of the album, despite its sad message. "A people castrated, injured and denied to be happy". Gomes takes of the mask and reveals the history of his people. The recording of 'Capturados' contained two annoying beeps close after the one minute mark which have been removed. Again, Johnson Mushingwa assisted with improving the album art.




Edson Gomes - Campo De Batalha

01. Criminalidade
02. Árvore
03. Campo De Batalha
04. Somos Nós 
05. Ovelha
06. Dance Reggae
07. Traumas
08. Perigo
09. Reviravolta
10. Revelação









Another two years later Campo De Batalha turned up, "battle field". There is so much violence and crime in the cities and the police is not able to do anything about it. 'Criminalidade' is a good start of an album which in my opinion is slightly inferior to the previous two albums. The music is still up to standard, but the vocal sound does not always top the bar. Nevertheless, the message spread by Edson Gomes is good, and it is well worth a shot to listen to it. He starts "flying", 'Árvora' on the rhythm of the second track which is a slow one. He is walking this earth, living under the sun, and the background vocalist repeteadly sing "vem me regar mãe", which translates "come shower me mother". The smell of death on the battle field, 'Campo De Batalha' and people will die in vain. In 'Somos Nós', "It is us", he sings about his people who live in poverty, those without rights, the brutalized. Even though some live in the cellars of hell, they are still the children of Jah. With a sad tone Edson tells us that there are days in life that we think we might not get what we want, when we think of quitting, of disappearing. But nonetheless he will go out there, he still will walk. 'Ovelha' means "sheep". The song carries this title because he is the black sheep of his family. 'Dance Reggae' seems an English title at first, but it is not. It is a celebration of Reggae music, as it is the music that Peter Tosh sang, is what he sings. Music made for me and you, from Africa to Jamaica. He opens 'Traumas' by singing that love was the missing stone in the foundation of the nation. The youth is misguided by sex, drugs, fame and money. 'Perigo' means "danger" in Portuguese, and the song is one big warning for a girl. Life is beautiful but very crazy as well, so make the right choices. Edson has seen things that this girl has not seen, and tells her that this is a cruel world. So go back home before it is too late. In the next song he turns to a friend and tells him that it is safe now and there are no dictators at the moment. But be careful, you never know what's next, perhaps they return one day, 'Reviravolta'. The music of this song is good, but Edson's voice has been better. As the last song on Recôncavo touched upon some history, so does the last song on Campo De Batalha. He speaks of bloody streets, revealing the truth, and the magic word which is love. 'Revelação' means "revolution", as you might have guessed.



Edson Gomes - Resgate Fatal

01. Meus Direitos
02. Resgate Fatal
03. Luz Do Senhor
04. Bela Cidade
05. Olinda
06. Isaac
07. Calamidade Pública
08. Zumbi Dos Palmares
09. Devolução
10. Fato Consumado
11. Sociedade Falida
12. Meretriz
13. Lembranças






With Resgate Fatal, "fatal rescue", Edson returns to the level of his first two albums. Singing "ô mamae Africa" he starts to sing about "my rights", 'Meus Direitos'. The poor people of Brasil are without an education, without opportunities and without houses  and the victims of racism. Gomes wants to have the right to be who he wants to be. His right to grow up and succeed in life. A very strong message and a powerful song. No less powerful is 'Resgate Fatal', the title track, which sounds very happy but is actually about the end of the world. Let the world end and let us all become natural men. Babylon is in distress and is falling because of the "light of the Lord", 'Luz Do Senhor'. "Beautiful city" is the meaning of the title of the fourth song, 'Bela Cidade'. The song sounds as one big celebration. A visit to the colonial town of 'Olinda' apparently made a lot of impact on Edson Gomes. Especially the girls were something to remember. Olinda is located north of of Bahia, in the state of Pernambuco. It is near the city of Recife. 'Isaac' is told to dance and sing to Reggae music. Grandma used to say that 'beauty does not make the table'. And he tells that there are a thousand ways to live your life, but you need to commit yourself to one of them, and die for it if necessary. A "public alamity", 'Calamidade Pública'. Edson lives at the end of the world and he is living as a convict, as there is nothing left for him. Everything is at risk and in danger. He sings about the rain repeatedly, which is 'chuva' in Portuguese. The song 'Zumbi Dos Palmares' calls for a historical lesson of Brazil, in the state of present day Alagoas. Quilombo dos Palmares was a settlement of escaped slaves. It stood strong for nearly a hundred years, and Zumbi was their last leader. In present day Brazil, the 20th of November, the day on which Zumbi dos Palmares was beheaded, is a day of Afro-Brazilian consciousness. More history to be found on Resgate Fatal, as it is the powerful 'Devolução', the opposite of evolution. This time he tells us that the land that once belonged to Indians should be returned to these people, because they are disappearing. Our Indians are dying, exterminated by our greed and arrogance.Two songs in which Edson has a look at the Brazilian population. A "consummate fact", 'Fato Consumado'. Who will pay for the misery and hunger of the people? So much blood is shed and milk is spilled. God will seperate the wheat from the chaff and only good men will reign. There is no turning back. He is not happy with the politicians and commerce governing Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil. No one is showing true commitment. Everything is bankrupt, companies, education, the youth and the security. 'Sociedade Falida' means "bankrupt company. The streets are filled with hypocrites, cats and rats, and no one knows whether he will be alive next Sunday. An anti-Babylon song follows and it is strong, just as it's title. A 'Meretriz' is a whore, a prostitute. In this case, someone that makes a pact with, follows or dreams about Babylon, or does not honour his or her body. He reminiscins about his childhood in 'Lembranças', "remembrance". Whereas his childhood was beautiful and exciting, life became more boring once he got older. The whole world now seems to be working and sweating.



Edson Gomes - Apocalipse

01. Perdido De Amor
02. O País É Culpado
03. Camelô
04. Amor Sem Compromisso
05. Babylon Vampire
06. Apocalipse
07. Me Abrace
08. Fogo Na Bailônia
09. Alma
10. Etíopia
11. Tarde
12. Querida
13. Ira






On previous songs Edson had anounced the end of the world, but it is getting one step nearer with this album title, Apocalipse. First Gomes is "lost in love", 'Perdido De Amor'. He was dating a brunette, and they were hugging, kissing and rolling on a bed. Much more sad is 'O Pais É Culpado', "the country is guilty". There is nowhere to go for the children of holy hope. The gentlemen of the slums, the men who suffer poverty. Illiterate, dipped in mud, lacking food on the table, waiting for the son of God. For the third song he takes the perspective of a street vendor, a good guy, a professional. He is of the opinion that what the police is doing is not the solution. 'Camelô' means street vendor, but literally the word means "barker". It was "love without commitment" in 'Amor Sem Compromisso'. But now that it is over he wants to forget all about it. His heart is torn apart, and he doesn't want to see her ever again. On a personal note, I would stop calling the lady "baby". We had heard two previous songs on the theme of 'Babylon Vampire', those were 'Sistemo Do Vampiro' on Reggae Resistência and 'Meretriz' on Resgate Fatal. Here he sings that he lives in Babylon, but he is not from there, and he doesn't follow their advice. In 'Apocalipse' Edson explains why he thinks the destruction of the world is already here. Look at this world, how it is lost. Generations are in conflict, the world is full of enemies. Thirsty for violence, running in search of blood of the innocent. State against state, nation against nation, brothers against brothers, all are in danger. Children killing parents, famine, calamities, pestilence, it's a dog's world. "Hug me", 'Me Abrace'! When he is making Reggae his mind is somewhere else, but when he is not, hug him. Of course, this is meant for a girl. 'Me Abrace' is a love song. "Fire in Babylon"! A song of hope and a song standing up against Babylon system, 'Fogo Na Bailônia'. Do not be afraid, when the system wants to get my life, it might do so, but it will never take my soul. In Babylon live the lying hypocrites he sings about in 'Alma'. Alma means "soul". The soul goes to heaven when the body dies. But while alive, watch out for the lies of the hypocrites. The unfair battle of 'Etíopia' took when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. With its powerfull army against the harmless native warriors. Edson complains about the fact that he was taught nothing about this historical event in school. The word 'Tarde' means both "afternoon" and "late", or "later". The latter is the meaning meant in this song. It was clear for everyone to see, the love Gomes had for his queen. But as we had heard in 'Amor Sem Compromisso' it was all in vain. 'Querida', "querida vem amor", "my love, come love". Edson is not shy to put a big number of love songs on this album, but he ends with a strong political song, 'Ira'. "Ira" means "anger" in Portuguese. Religious prophets and political promises are all aimed at one thing, to profit from capitalism. Disguised crooks, hypocrites. Enemies are trying to destroy him because they say he talks to much. He asks righteous God to come to his rescue and to solve all problems with a touch of the tip of his fingers. 

Edson Gomes - Acorde, Levante, Lute

01. Acorde, Levante, Lute
02. Sangue Azul
03. Linda
04. Serpente
05. Sandra
06. Malandrinha
07. Inquilino Das Prisões
08. Homens Lixo
09. Arca Da Fuga
10. Vibração Positiva
11. Inversão
12. 500 Anos
13. Tema Da Karoba






"Wake up, get up and fight" is what Edson Gomes means to say with both the album title and the first song on the album, 'Acorde, Levante, Lute'. It is meant for the children of nature, the forest man, the tribal man. Edson expresses that he is on their side. He then opposes eugenics with 'Sangue Azul', "blue blood". They wanted a blue world, he sings. Where people were professional sexual objects. But God's power prevented it. And "we", the people without blue blood", spread everywhere, in every corner, on each square, in every alley. And even those who don;t have radio or television join and sing Reggae music. A touch on free democracy for the people of Brazil in 'Linda', "beautiful". On paper, this democracy is beautiful. The problem is that the paper never unfolded and no one ever saw true democracy. Edson wants to do a lot of things that seem impossible, such as dream, scream and challenge. He is a rebel, but he cannot rebel. A powerful song. You are so bad, so clever, your poison is cruel and fatal. Who touches you always wants more. The serpent generated evil, "poisonous thou art". He mentions a couple of pit vipers, and the naja, which is the cobra. He sings about his girlfriend who listens to the name of 'Sandra'. She doesn't come across as the friendliest of girls. She is quiet, angry. And although she is the owner of his heart and ispires him, she destroys and kills him too. If you listened to the previous albums you will recognize 'Malandrinha' which featured on Reggae Resistência. The song here is a different version. . When he lived in the house of Satan he was his prisoner, and did anything for money. Smoked marijuana, sniffed powder and drank rum. He was the 'Inquilino Das Prisões', the "tenant of prisons", a danger for society, marginal. He has now been led to his Father's house and there is no more pain or suffering. There, everything is love, and there is no allocation of colour. Cursed men, "garbage men", 'Homens Lixo' have led the people to despair, going crazy for money. Currently the leaders are nothing but trash. Hopefully this image will once be restored and hope returning to the people. A common saying in Reggae in 'Arca Da Fuga', Edson does not want to miss the train. The train is the "arca da fuga", the "ark of escape". This was of course Noah's Ark, but he tells the people of Brazil to wake up today, not to be caught off guard. Lending a title of Bob Marley, namely 'Positive Vibration' we get a 'Vibração Positiva'. The native music of Rastas and of Africa, People, Babylon, listen to this positive music that Reggae is, He also involves Natty Dread and the Rastaman. Speaking in riddles he comes with 'Inversão', "reversal". Everything changes. He was the lamb, now the lion, firs crying, now laughing. He went on stage, he was the audience. He was the target, now he is the shooter. More such lines follow up. Whereas Peter Tosh once sang '400 Years', '500 Anos' seems more accurate for the Brazilian case, as Pedro Cabral discovered the land in 1500 for the Portuguese. The Indians fell, and the blacks danced and worked for the whites. He sings how is the living proof of this history. 'Tema Da Karoba' is largely instrumental. The background singers sing "cão de raça", the name of the band. There are a couple of songs that Edson has played at live concerts that have not featured on albums. These songs might be on an album released in the future. Songs such as 'Barrados No Baile', 'Lei Do Engano', 'Um Sonho' and 'Familia Maluca'.  



««««« (1988) Reggae Resistência
««««« (1990) Recôncavo
««««« (1992) Campo De Batalha
««««« (1995) Resgate Fatal
««««« (1999) Apocalipse
««««« (2002) Acorde, Levante, Lute



Original Date Of Publishing: October 2015