101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening sym… Read Full Bio ↴101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization, with a discography exceeding a hundred albums and a creative lifetime of roughly thirty years. Their LPs were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence", a puffy cloud logo and sepia-toned photo of the orchestra. According to the photograph, the 101 Strings orchestra was composed of 124 string instruments (all male except for the harpist) and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan. The orchestra's famous official photograph was taken in the Musikhalle Hamburg. In reality, of course, the recordings also featured a full brass, woodwind and percussion section, and not quite as many strings as are shown in the photograph. In later years (right up to the 80's), the recordings were made by a session orchestra in London, with a line-up including a modern "pop" rhythm section. In the late 1990's, the 101 Strings Orchestra was revived with "The New 101 Strings Orchestra" for a series of modern recordings.

Girl From Ipanema
101 Strings Orchestra Lyrics

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Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah

When she walks, she's like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah

(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
How can he tell her he loves her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day, that she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at he

Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see

(Doesn't see)
(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)

Overall Meaning

"The Girl from Ipanema" is a classic Brazilian Bossa Nova song that has been covered by many artists since its original release in the 1960s. The song's lyrics capture the essence of a young woman's beauty and how she captivates everyone around her as she walks down the streets of Ipanema. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, describing the girl's physical attributes and how each person that she passes is captivated by her.

In the second verse, the song compares the girl's walk to the rhythm and sway of the samba, which is a popular dance style in Brazil. The song builds on the theme of the girl's captivating nature, using the repetition of "each one she passes goes - ah" to highlight the impact she has on the people around her.

The final verse shifts the focus to a single observer, who is watching the girl from afar and pining for her affection. The lyrics express the hopelessness of his love, as the girl never looks in his direction. Despite this, he still proclaims his love for her and would "give [his] heart gladly" if she were to acknowledge him. The contrasting emotions between the girl's beauty and the observer's unrequited love make for a poignant and memorable conclusion to the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall, tanned, young and beautiful.

The girl from Ipanema goes walking
She takes walks regularly.

And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Everyone, who sees her, makes a sound of amazement.

When she walks, she's like a samba
Her walking style is as good and smooth as samba dance.

That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her walking style is elegant and relaxed.

That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Everyone keeps admiring her and follows her with their eyes.

(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
The singer watches her sadly.

How can he tell her he loves her
He is distressed and unsure how to reveal his true feelings for her.

Yes I would give my heart gladly
He is willing to give her his heart if she accepts his love.

But each day, that she walks to the sea
Every day she takes a walk to the ocean.

She looks straight ahead, not at he
Unfortunately, she is unaware of the singer's existence and does not pay him any attention.

Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
Repeats the initial line.

And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see
The singer tries to smile, but the girl does not notice him.

(Doesn't see)
Nobody sees him or his loneliness.

(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
The girl is not aware of the singer's existence, and he remains invisible to her.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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