Once I Loved
Dianne Reeves Lyrics


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Once, I loved
And I gave so much love to this love
You were the world to me
Once, I cried
At the thought I was foolish and proud and let you say goodbye
Then one day
In my infinite sadness you came and brought me love again
Now I know
That no matter whatever befalls
I'll never let you go
I will hold you close
Make you stay
Because love is the saddest thing when it goes away
Love is the saddest thing when it goes away

Then one day
In my infinite sadness you came and brought me love again
Now I know
That no matter whatever befalls
I'll never let you go
I will hold you close
Here you'll stay




Because love is the saddest thing when it goes away
Yes love is the saddest thing when it goes away

Overall Meaning

In Dianne Reeves's song "Once I Loved," she reflects on the ups and downs of love. The song starts with a nostalgic tone, as she reminisces about a love that she once had and how much she gave to it. She describes her former partner as the world to her, indicating the depth of her feelings. However, she acknowledges that she made mistakes and let her love go, which led to her crying out of regret. Yet, the song takes a dramatic turn when her former partner comes back into her life, and she finds love again, bringing her out of her "infinite sadness."


The second half of the song is more optimistic, emphasizing the importance of never letting go of love. She promises to hold her partner close and make them stay, never letting them go again. She concludes with the profound statement that love is the saddest thing when it goes away, emphasizing the fleeting nature of love and the need for us to cherish it when we have it.


Overall, the song is a poignant examination of love, its ebbs and flows, and how we must cherish it while we have it. Through her powerful vocals, Dianne Reeves conveys the depth of emotion that comes with love, and how it can bring both incredible joy and profound sadness.


Line by Line Meaning

Once, I loved
There was a time when I was deeply in love


And I gave so much love to this love
I poured all my heart and soul into this love


You were the world to me
I saw you as everything to me, my whole world


Once, I cried
I shed tears because I realized my mistake of being foolish and proud and let you go


At the thought I was foolish and proud and let you say goodbye
I regretted my behavior that led to us parting ways


Then one day
At a particular moment in time


In my infinite sadness you came and brought me love again
When I was feeling extremely sad, you came back into my life and gave me love once again


Now I know
After this experience, I have come to realize


That no matter whatever befalls
That regardless of what happens


I'll never let you go
I will never allow us to separate again


I will hold you close
I will keep you close to me


Make you stay
I will ensure that you stay with me


Because love is the saddest thing when it goes away
I have learned that the absence of love is the greatest source of sadness


Love is the saddest thing when it goes away
The lack of love brings the most sorrow




Lyrics © CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: ANTONIO CARLOS BRASILEIRO DE A JOBIM, MARCUS VINICIUS DA CRUZ DE M. MORAES, RAY GILBERT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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