One Note Samba
Antonio Carlos Jobim; Frank Sinatra Lyrics


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This is just a little samba
built upon a single note
Other notes are bound to follow but the root is still that note
Now this new one is the consequence
of the one we've just been through
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you

There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I've come
To nothing, or nearly nothing
So I come back to my first note
as I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note
all the love I feel for you
Any one who wants the whole show do-re-mi-fa-so-la-si-do
He will find himself with no show
Better play the note you know

There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I've come
To nothing, I mean nothing
So I come back to my first note
as I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note
all the love I feel for you
Any one who wants the whole show do-re-mi-fa-so-la-si-do




He will find himself with no show
Better play the notes you know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "One Note Samba" by Antonio Carlos Jobim, as performed by Frank Sinatra, convey a poetic and introspective perspective on the simplicity and beauty of love. The song starts by acknowledging that it is just a simple samba, centered around one single note. However, it emphasizes that other notes are bound to follow, signifying the development and growth of the relationship. The new note is described as a consequence of the note that came before it, just as the singer himself is described as an unavoidable consequence of the person he is singing to.


In the following verses, the lyrics reflect on the limitations of language and communication. It states that many people can talk endlessly without saying anything significant. The singer compares this to using up all the notes in the musical scale, but still feeling like he has come to nothing, or nearly nothing. In this realization, he comes back to the first note, symbolizing a return to what truly matters – the love and emotion he feels for the person he is singing to.


Line by Line Meaning

This is just a little samba
This song is a small, simple samba


built upon a single note
The entire song is based on a single musical note


Other notes are bound to follow but the root is still that note
Although other notes may be introduced, the main focus remains on that original note


Now this new one is the consequence of the one we've just been through
The next note in the song is influenced by the previous note


As I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you
In the same way, my presence in your life is an inevitable result of our connection


There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
There are countless individuals who love to talk excessively


And just say nothing or nearly nothing
Unfortunately, their words lack substance or meaning


I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I've come To nothing, or nearly nothing
I have exhausted all the musical possibilities I am familiar with, resulting in a lack of meaningful music


So I come back to my first note as I must come back to you
Inevitably, I return to that initial note, just as I always find myself returning to you


I will pour into that one note all the love I feel for you
Through that single note, I will express the immense love I have for you


Any one who wants the whole show do-re-mi-fa-so-la-si-do
Those who desire a complete performance expect all the musical notes


He will find himself with no show
However, they will be disappointed when there is no elaborate performance


Better play the note you know
It is wiser to focus on playing the notes you are familiar with




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Antonio Carlos Brasileiro De A Jobim, Newton Mendonca

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@user-yo7ir4uk2o

This is just a little samba
Built upon a single note
Other notes are bound to follow
But the root is still that note
Now this new one is the consequence
Of the one we've just been through
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable
Consequence of you

There's so many people who can
Talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing
Or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know
And at the end I've come to nothing
Or nearly nothing

So I came back to my first note
As I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note
All the love I feel for you
Anyone who wants the whole show
Re mi fa sol la si do
He will find himself with no show
Better play the note you know



@mashka9192

Intro]
This is just a little samba, built upon a single note
Other notes are bound to follow, but the root is still that note
Now this new one is the consequence of the one we've just been through
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you

[Verse 1]
There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing, or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end
I've come to nothing, or nearly nothing

So I come back to my first note, as I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note, all the love I feel for you
Anyone who wants the whole show, re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do
He will find himself with no show, better play the note you know

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 1]
There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing, or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end
I've come to nothing, or nearly nothing

[Verse 2]
So I come back to my first note, as I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note, all the love I feel for you
Anyone who wants the whole show, re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do
He will find himself with no show, better play the note you know



All comments from YouTube:

@teachyourkid

My beautiful mother and father sliding across those polished floors...love at the epitome of breath and heartbeat. She lost him in 69--VietNam--he was 38 and she was 35--we five children know the memory of our parents by their love encapsulated in rhythm through dance. Mom is 88, she has never loved another. I pray she goes to him in her sleep; he has been waiting for her for over 5 decades for that "heavenly dance".

@josegeraldodacostaleal2323

SAMBA DE UMA NOTA SÓ, AUTORES NEWTON MENDONÇA E TOM JOBIM, GRANDE OBRA MUSICAL, LINDA INTERPRETAÇÃO E APRESENTAÇÃO. PARABENIZO. ABRAÇOS CORDIAIS.

@usuariodogoogle3542

que orgulho..apenas isso.

@lynk2960

So i come back to my first note 🗣️🔥

@lumiere697

un capolavoro del 20 secolo

@stephengardner5834

Play loud and often..

@juancarlosalmiron2055

SING AT ALL FRANK !

@user-yo7ir4uk2o

This is just a little samba
Built upon a single note
Other notes are bound to follow
But the root is still that note
Now this new one is the consequence
Of the one we've just been through
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable
Consequence of you

There's so many people who can
Talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing
Or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know
And at the end I've come to nothing
Or nearly nothing

So I came back to my first note
As I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note
All the love I feel for you
Anyone who wants the whole show
Re mi fa sol la si do
He will find himself with no show
Better play the note you know

@robertoriosz07

Hermoso! 😍

@claudpiro6469

Capolavoro

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