"Samba de Uma Nota Só" ("One Note Samba") is a song composed by Antonio Car… Read Full Bio ↴"Samba de Uma Nota Só" ("One Note Samba") is a song composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim with Portuguese lyrics by Newton Mendonça. The English lyrics were written by Jobim.

The song title refers to the main melody line, which at first consists of a long series of notes of a single tone played in a bossa nova rhythm (typically D, as played in the key of G). The first eight measures consist of D, followed by four measures of G, and then four measures of D. This is followed by eight measures of a more varied melody line.

This well-known song first reached a wide audience on the Grammy-winning bossa nova LP Jazz Samba (Getz/Byrd/Jobim)[1], which reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in 1963. Another well-known release is the Sergio Mendes-Brasil '66 version, in medley with "Spanish Flea."

Samba de uma nota só
Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Per un samba piccolino
Una nota basterà
cltre note troverò
Ma la base e tutta qua
E quest'altra è conseguente
Puoi comprenderlo da te
Perché tu sei conseguenza
Inevitabile di me

Per non imitare chi non parla
Che in maniera imprecisata
cpprossimata
Cerco tra le note d'ogni scala
cd una ad una esaminata
E abbandonata
E ritorno alla mia nota
Come tu torni da me
E non cerco che una nota
Come cerco sempre te
Che m'importa d'ogni nota
Re mi fa sol la si do
Me ne basta solo una
E su quella canterò
Che m'importa d'ogni nota
Re mi fa sol la si do
Me ne basta solo una
E su quella canterò
Eis aqui este sambinha feito numa nota só
Outras notas vão entrar, mas a base é uma só
Esta outra é consequência do que acabo de dizer
Como eu sou a consequência inevitável de você
Quanta gente existe por aí que fala tanto e não diz nada
Ou quase nada
Já me utilizei de toda a escala
E no final não sobrou nada
Não deu em nada
E voltei pra minha nota como eu volto pra você
Vou contar com a minha nota como eu gosto de você
E quem quer todas as notas
Ré, mi, fá, sol, lá, si, dó
Fica sempre sem nenhuma
Fique numa nota só
E quem quer todas as notas
Ré, mi, fá, sol, lá, si, dó

Fica sempre sem nenhuma
Fique numa nota só

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Samba de uma nota só by Antonio Carlos Jobim express the simplicity and power of a single note in music and in relationships. The song describes a samba made of just one note, but with the promise of others to come. This one note serves as the foundation for the entire piece, much like one person can be the foundation for a relationship. The next line compares the addition of other notes to the inevitability of a consequence, much like the way people's actions can have a ripple effect on others. The idea that each note is a consequence of the one that came before it speaks to the idea of cause and effect in life and relationships.

The second stanza speaks to the idea that many people talk a lot, but don't truly convey anything meaningful. The singer then admits to using all the notes at his disposal in the past, but it didn't lead to anything significant. He then returns to the one note, much like he returns to the person he loves. The last line encourages listeners to stay with one note rather than continually searching for more, as having everything can lead to having nothing.

Overall, the lyrics to Samba de uma nota só are a beautiful reflection on the simplicity and complexity of music and relationships. The idea that one note can be enough to create a beautiful and meaningful song, and that one person can be enough to create a fulfilling relationship, is a powerful one.

Line by Line Meaning

Eis aqui este sambinha
Here is this little samba

Feito numa nota só
Made with just one note

Outras notas vão entrar
Other notes will come in

Mas a base é uma só
But the base is just one

Esta outra é consequência
This other one is a consequence

Do que acabo de dizer
Of what I just said

Como eu sou a conseqüência
Like I am the inevitable consequence

Inevitável de você
Of you and me

Quanta gente existe por aí
There are so many people out there

Que fala, fala e não diz nada
That talk and talk but don't say anything

Ou quase nada
Or almost nothing