The Girl From Ipanema
Julian Lloyd Webber Lyrics


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Tall and tan and young and lovely
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
(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
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)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Julian Lloyd Webber’s song ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ are a tribute to a beautiful girl who captures attention and turns heads every time she walks down the streets of Ipanema. She is described as tall, tan, young and lovely, and her walk is compared to a samba. Her every passing makes people hold their breath and say “ah” as she exudes such charm and grace that it brings joy to the eyes of onlookers. The singer of the song, however, watches her sadly, as he knows that she is out of reach for him. He admires her from afar, wishing to tell her of his love for her but cannot because she never looks his way. He would gladly give his heart to her, but she walks straight ahead and never pays attention to him.


The song, which was written in 1962 by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes, was a tribute to a real girl from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Helo Pinheiro caught the attention of Jobim and de Moraes while she was walking on the beaches of Ipanema, and the song was born. 'The Girl From Ipanema' became a global sensation, and it is one of the most recorded songs in history. The bossa nova beat and jazz-inspired melody have become iconic over the years, and it has been covered by many notable musicians.


Line by Line Meaning

Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema is tall, tanned, young and beautiful.


The girl from Ipanema goes walking
She goes for a walk every day in Ipanema.


And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
People passing by are amazed by her beauty and let out an exclamation.


When she walks, she's like a samba
Her walk is graceful and rhythmic like the samba dance.


That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her movements are smooth and effortless.


That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah
Again, people are struck by her stunning presence.


(Ooh) But he watch her so sadly
The singer watches her with sadness, perhaps longing for her attention and love.


How can he tell her he loves her
He wants to confess his love to her, but is unsure how to approach her.


Yes I would give my heart gladly
He is willing to offer his heart to her if she accepts his love.


But each day, that she walks to the sea
Every day she walks towards the sea and away from him.


She looks straight ahead, not at he
She does not notice him, her focus is on her walk.


The girl from Ipanema goes walking
Again, she continues her daily walk in Ipanema.


And when she passes, he smile - but she doesn't see (Doesn't see) (She just doesn't see, she never sees him)
He smiles when she passes, but she never notices him and remains unaware of his affections.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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