Meditation
Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
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When you're gone and I'm all by myself
And I need your caress
I just think of you
And the thought of you holding me near
Makes my loneliness soon disappear
Though you're far away
And you are back to stay
I just close my eyes
And the sadness that missing you brings
Soon is gone and this heart of mine sings
Yes I love you so
And that for me is all I need to know
I will wait for you
Til the sun falls from out of the sky
For what else can I do
I will wait for you meditating
How sweet life will be
When you come back to me
The lyrics of Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Meditation" express the feelings of a person clinging to the thought of their beloved in moments of solitude. The opening line sets the stage for the rest of the song as the singer talks about the painful void and silence that's created when their lover leaves their side. But then the singer conjures up the memory of their lover's touch and how it comforts them. This sense of lovelorn longing is heightened in the third stanza when the singer says they'll "wait for you/Til the sun falls from out of the sky/For what else can I do." At this point, the singer is standing at the edge of despair, uncertain of when they'll see their lover again.
But the mood shifts in the final stanza as the song becomes a meditation on the future reunion with the lover. Here, the singer is able to imagine that happy day when they will once again be in each other's arms. The phrase "meditating how sweet life will be/When you come back to me" captures Jobim's theme of the redemptive power of love - even in the face of adversity, the thought of love can sustain us.
The song is gentle and slow, reflecting the tender emotion of the lyrics. The orchestration is also understated, with only a piano and strings accompanying the vocalist. The simplicity of the music conveys the raw emotion expressed in the words.
Line by Line Meaning
In my loneliness
During the time I'm alone
When you're gone and I'm all by myself
When you're absent and I'm solitary
And I need your caress
And I long for your loving touch
I just think of you
I envisage you in my mind
And the thought of you holding me near
And the notion of you embracing me closely
Makes my loneliness soon disappear
Eases my loneliness and comforts me
Though you're far away
Although you're distant
I have only to close my eyes
I simply shut my eyes
And you are back to stay
And you reappear and linger
I just close my eyes
I simply shut my eyes
And the sadness that missing you brings
And the sorrow that your absence causes
Soon is gone and this heart of mine sings
Quickly vanishes, and my heart exults
Yes I love you so
Yes, I adore you immensely
And that for me is all I need to know
And that is all important for me to be aware of
I will wait for you
I will patiently anticipate your return
Til the sun falls from out of the sky
Until the sun sets forever
For what else can I do
Since there's nothing else I can do
I will wait for you meditating
I'll meditate while waiting for you
How sweet life will be
How joyful life will become
When you come back to me
Once you return back to me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, NEWTON MENDONCA, NORMAN GIMBEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@straightawayproject
Quem acreditou
No amor, no sorriso, na flor
Entao sonhou, sonhou...
E perdeu a paz
O amor, o sorriso e a flor
Se transformam depressa demais
Quem, no coraçao
Abrigou a tristeza de ver tudo isto se perder
E, na solidao
Procurou um caminho e seguiu,
Já descrente de um dia feliz
Quem chorou, chorou
E tanto que seu pranto já secou
Quem depois voltou
Ao amor, ao sorriso e à flor
Então tudo encontrou
E a própria dor
Revelou o caminho do amor
E a tristeza acabou
Composição: Newton Mendonça / Tom Jobim
@bondish53
first heard it in bierut on our terrace overlooking the med in 1966 on bbc radio. I was 12 years old and blown away.
@RichieALevy
One of my top 5 Bossa Nova songs. I totally agree with you Ric. I've been singing,and playing this for decades . Saha@
@cliftonboyz1959
Ric Lewis what a beautiful setting...the French Riviera of the ME.....now look at it.
@marcogil6665
Thanks for sharing your memory, I traveled in my mind to that setting,never been to beirut.
@colinpadley1897
Lovely story, music is international.
@DynamicVibeCraft
I’ve never thought this song could be that “old”. This song is so amazing and fantastic. You are very lucky that you could overlook the med at the age of 12. My dad was born in 1954 too, when he was 12, he was suffering from starvation.
@JorgeVergaraV.
Que belleza de canción, que gran belleza caray!! ...recuerdo una noche de 1978 al terminar de trabajar, en el centro de Lima, me compré el mejor disco de Antonio Carlos Jobim, tiene obras tan hermosas como Chica de Ipanema, A felicidade, Insensatez y otras así. Me quitó mi ansiedad y problemas que estaba enfrentando ... así es la música! - Gracias señor bad901!
@jhana.2023
My country .. Brazil is full of talent in music. The maestro Tom Jobim is just one of them. Too beautiful ... too much ...
@imaginativelads
I didn't know all these fans existed. Fell in love with Bossa Nova 15 yrs ago and never fallen out of love like so many genres before it. The Bossa Nova finds you, when you're ready.
@atimtambaby
***** I love it, "The Bossa Nova finds you when you are ready." Touche!