The tracks were arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman and his orchestra.
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 followed up this album with "Sinatra & Company".
The Girl From Ipanema
Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes ah
When she walks she's like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes ooh
How can I tell her I love her?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead not at me
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, I smile but she doesn't see
Doesn't see
Olha que coisa mais linda mais cheia de graça
É ela, menina, que vem e que passa
Num doce balanço a caminho do mar
Moça do corpo dourado do sol de Ipanema
O seu balançado parece um poema
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar
Ooh, but I watch her so sadly
Aah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me
Tall, tan, young, lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes I smile but she doesn't see
Por causa do amor
She just doesn't see
Nem olha para mim
She never sees me
Por causa do amor
The lyrics of Frank Sinatra's song "The Girl from Ipanema" paint a picture of a young, beautiful woman walking down the streets of Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, the sun shining on her tanned skin as she sways to the rhythms of samba. The singer watches her in longing and sadness, knowing that she is oblivious to his love for her. The lyrics highlight the passing of time, as the girl walks to the sea day after day, leading the singer to wonder if he will ever have the chance to express his love.
The song captures the essence of Rio de Janeiro's upbeat and lively culture, which is embodied in the sounds of samba, a genre of music and dance that originated in Brazil. The singer describes the girl's movements as "swinging so cool and swaying so gentle", echoing the spirit of the samba, which is all about enjoying life to the fullest.
However, despite the lightheartedness of the music, the lyrics carry a sense of melancholy and longing. The singer watches the girl walk by day after day, admiring her beauty and elegance, but unable to tell her how he feels. This contrast between the vibrancy of the city's culture and the singer's unrequited love creates a bittersweet tone that adds depth to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall, tanned, young, and lovely.
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
The girl from Ipanema likes to go for walks.
And when she passes, each one she passes goes ah
People can't help but be enamored and impressed by her beauty when she passes by.
When she walks she's like a samba
Her gait is smooth and rhythmic, like the dance style samba.
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her movements are effortless, fluid, and graceful.
That when she passes, each one she passes goes ooh
Her mere presence inspires feelings of awe and admiration in the people around her.
But I watch her so sadly
The singer has feelings for the girl from Ipanema, but knows that she doesn't feel the same way.
How can I tell her I love her?
The singer is unsure if he should confess his love for her.
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
The singer is willing to give his heart to the girl from Ipanema if she would accept it.
But each day when she walks to the sea
The girl from Ipanema likes to walk towards the ocean everyday.
She looks straight ahead not at me
The girl from Ipanema is not interested in the singer and doesn't pay attention to him.
And when she passes, I smile but she doesn't see
Despite his feelings for her, the girl from Ipanema doesn't even notice the singer when he smiles at her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind