After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
The Girl From Ipanema
John McDermott 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 - ah
How can he tell her he loves her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day, that she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at he
Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see
(Doesn't see)
(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
The song “The Girl from Ipanema” is a tribute to the beauty and allure of a young woman from the Ipanema neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. The opening stanzas describe her physical attributes- tall and tan with youthful beauty, and the way she moves as she walks down the street. Her graceful movements mimic the rhythm of the samba, which is popular in Brazil, and her presence captivates everyone as she walks by.
The third stanza changes the tone of the song, as the focus shifts to one particular man’s feelings for the girl. He watches her pass by every day, but he feels helpless to express his admiration for her. He longs to tell her that he loves her, but he can’t find a way to approach her. His sadness is palpable, as he is forced to watch her walk away every day, knowing that she doesn't even notice him.
The final stanzas of the song repeat the opening lines once again, emphasizing the girl’s beauty and mystery. The man watches her smile as she passes by, but it is all in vain, as she never sees him watching her. Overall, the lyrics of “The Girl from Ipanema” are a beautiful tribute to the allure of beauty and the longing it can create in those who admire it.
Line by Line Meaning
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall, has tan skin, is youthful, and beautiful
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
The girl from Ipanema takes a walk
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Each person she passes is enchanted by her beauty and can only sigh in admiration
When she walks, she's like a samba
She walks with a rhythmic sway, resembling a samba dance
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her movement is relaxed and smooth
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Her presence is so captivating that everyone who sees her can't help but sigh
(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
But her admirer watches her with sadness
How can he tell her he loves her
He wonders how he can express his love for her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
He would willingly give his heart to her
But each day, that she walks to the sea
Every day, she takes a walk towards the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at he
She doesn't notice him and remains focused on her walk
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
She continues to take her daily walk
And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see
He smiles when she passes, but she doesn't see it
(Doesn't see)
She remains unaware of his feelings towards her
(She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
No matter how much he admires her, she never seems to notice him
Lyrics © GRACEFUL SAMBA MUSIC
Written by: BOLA SETE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind