Perdido
Charlie Parker and His Orchestra Lyrics

The lyrics of "Perdido" by Charlie Parker and His Orchestra express the singer's longing and search for a lost love. The word "perdido" means "lost" in Spanish, and it serves as both the title and recurring theme of the song. The singer declares that their heart is lost and searches for it throughout the lyrics.

The song begins with the singer lamenting the loss of their heart, stating, "I look for my heart, it's perdido. I lost it way down in Torito, the day the fiesta started." This suggests that the heart was lost during a lively celebration in Torito, adding to the sense of passion and yearning present in the song.

The second verse introduces the element of a bolero, a slow-tempo Latin dance. The singer mentions being enchanted by the music, stating, "I sway that they play the Bolero. I kissed me the listing sombrero, and that's when my heart departed." This implies that the singer's heart was captivated or perhaps lured away by the romantic atmosphere created by the bolero and the passionate moment shared with a partner.

The lyrics further describe the intensity of the emotions experienced by the singer. The lines, "High, was the sun when I held him close. Low, was the moon when we said, 'Adios,'" convey a sense of both euphoria and sadness. The sun symbolizes the intense passion and connection shared between the singer and their lost love, while the moon represents the bittersweet farewell and the subsequent feeling of emptiness.

Despite the pain of loss, the singer acknowledges that they must go back to Torito to find what was lost, reinforcing their determination to retrieve their heart. The repetition of the phrase "Perdido, my heart ever since is Perdido" emphasizes the strong desire to reclaim what has been lost and the longing that persists.

The song concludes with the lines, "Goodnight perdido, I lost perdido." This repetition brings the song full circle, underscoring the theme of loss and setting a melancholic tone. The ending implies that the search for the lost heart may continue, leaving the singer in a state of longing and uncertainty.

Overall, the lyrics of "Perdido" convey a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the desire to reconnect with what has been left behind. The repeated use of the term "perdido" emphasizes the central theme of searching for something lost, evoking a sense of longing and yearning throughout the song.