Perdido
Duke Ellington Orchestra Lyrics
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I look for my heart
It's perdido
I lost it way down in Torito
The day the fiesta started
Bolero,
I sway that they play the Bolero
And that's when my heart departed
High, was the sun when I held him close
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
Perdido
My heart ever since is Perdido
I know I must go to Torito
To find what I lost Perdido
High, was the sun when I held him close
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
Perdido
Goodnight perdido
I lost perdido
Duke Ellington's "Perdido" is a song that explores the themes of love and loss, as well as the cultural influence of Latin American music. From the first line, "Perdido, I look for my heart," the song speaks to a sense of longing and displacement that goes beyond just the physical loss of a heart. This loss is further emphasized in the repeated refrain of "My heart ever since is Perdido," which suggests a sense of emotional distance or emptiness.
The setting of the song, the fictional town of Torito, adds to the sense of cultural richness and exoticism, as well as to the themes of longing and nostalgia. The celebration of the fiesta in Torito, with the bolero music and the sombrero, represents a moment of joy and passion that has now passed. This din of cultural influences in the lyrics and Duke Ellington's music are typical of the Afro-Latin style of jazz that he pioneered.
Line by Line Meaning
Perdido
The singer has lost something important.
I look for my heart
The singer is searching for their missing heart.
It's perdido
The singer's heart is lost.
I lost it way down in Torito
The artist lost their heart at the fiesta in Torito.
The day the fiesta started
The artist lost their heart at the beginning of the fiesta.
Bolero,
A type of music being played at the fiesta.
I sway that they play the Bolero
The singer is swaying to the Bolero music.
I kissed me the listing sombrero
The artist kissed the sombrero that was listed for the fiesta.
And that's when my heart departed
The moment the artist kissed the sombrero, their heart left.
High, was the sun when I held him close
The sun was high in the sky when the artist was holding their lost heart.
Low, was the moon when we said, "Adios"
The moon was low in the sky when the singer said goodbye to their lost heart.
Perdido
The artist's heart is still lost.
My heart ever since is Perdido
The singer's heart has been lost since that day in Torito.
I know I must go to Torito
The singer knows they need to return to Torito.
To find what I lost Perdido
The singer wants to find their lost heart in Torito.
Goodnight perdido
The artist says goodnight to their lost heart.
I lost perdido
The artist is acknowledging that they lost their heart.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JUAN TIZOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Terry O'Brien
Thank you for posting this.
I had it on LP when I was 15 and wore it out.
Terry O'Brien
Cat putting on the gas at the end and no one keeps up :-)