“Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim” is a 1967 album by Frank Si… Read Full Bio ↴“Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim” is a 1967 album by Frank Sinatra, featuring the Brazilian composer, arranger, guitarist and pianist Antônio Carlos Jobim, with arrangements and orchestration by Claus Ogerman.

Along with Jobim’s original compositions, the album features three standards from the ‘Great American Songbook’, (“Change Partners”, “I Concentrate On You”, and “Baubles, Bangles and Beads”) arranged in the bossa nova style.

Sinatra and Jobim reconvened to record a follow up in 1969, with arrangements by Eumir Deodato. Though the recordings were released briefly on 8 track tape, as 'Sinatra-Jobim', the regular album release was suspended. The recordings did not appear on album until 1971, when issued as side 1 of 'Sinatra & Company', with Sinatra solo recordings occupying Side 2.

Three songs recorded at the 'Sinatra-Jobim' session – "Bonita", "Sabiá", and "Off Key (Desafinado)" – were omitted from 'Sinatra & Company' : "Sabiá" was released in the USA in 1970 as the flip side of the 45 rpm single "Lady Day" and appeared with "Bonita" on the 1977 compilation 'Portrait of Sinatra' and the 1979 compilation, 'Sinatra-Jobim Sessions' ; "Off Key (Desafinado)" was unreleased until its inclusion on the box set 'The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings' in 1995.

In 2010 the Concord Records label issued ''Sinatra-Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings', a collection of all the tracks recorded in the 1967 and 1969 sessions by the artists.

Once I Loved
Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once, 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
From my infinite sadness you came
And brought me love again

Now I know that no matter what ever 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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Once I Loved” describe a person reflecting on a previous relationship where they loved deeply and gave all their love to their partner. Their partner meant the world to them, but they were proud and foolish and let them say goodbye. However, one day the person’s infinite sadness was lifted when their partner returned to bring them love again. The person now realizes that no matter what happens, they will never let their partner go and will hold them close to make them stay. The song ends with the melancholic realization that love is the saddest thing when it goes away.

The lyrics are beautifully written, and the song explores the timeless theme of lost love with a sense of wistful yearning. The first verse describes the intense love the person had for their partner and how their partner was everything to them. The second verse is about the person’s regret at letting their partner go and how they were consumed by infinite sadness. The final verse is about the person’s redemption and realization that they will never let go of their partner again, as love is the saddest thing when it goes away.

Line by Line Meaning

Once, once I loved and I gave so much love
In the past, I loved deeply and with great intensity

To this love, you were the world to me
You were everything to me in that love

Once I cried at the thought
At one point, I was overwhelmed with emotion

I was foolish and proud and let you say goodbye
My foolish pride led me to let you walk away

Then one day
Eventually, something happened

From my infinite sadness you came
You brought me out of my great sadness

And brought me love again
You showed me love once more

Now I know that no matter what ever befalls
I understand that no matter what happens

I'll never let you go
I will always hold onto you

I will hold you close
I will keep you near me

Make you stay
Ensure that you never leave

Because love is the saddest thing
Because love can bring great sadness

When it goes away
When it comes to an end

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

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS