The empathy with the musical instruments started with the guitar. It was with the guitar that she realised were the chords of her parent’s music come from. From The Beatles and from many others. And it was on an early age that she gave herself to the unique melodies that the jazz immortalized. The capacity of a melody to stand by itself, without the instruments. She embraced such artists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzerald, Chet Baker, and many others and with them in her heart she set off to the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, USA, to study music. In her 4 year stay in Boston she was nominated for the «Best Jazz Song» at the Malibu Music Awards (2008); «Best Jazz Artist» at the Hollywood Music Awards ; «International Songwriting Competition» (2007) and «The John Lennon Songwriting Competition» (2008).
More than being nominated or completing her studies, Luísa was also discovering herself every year that went by. Her musical identity would further develop in New York, where she moved after finish her degree in Boston (2009). In her bags a lot of what would eventually give shape to songs that where already wandering inside her head. Hers and her mother’s who confessed to her she had dreamed that her first album would be called «The Cherry on My Cake». Maternal magic that made a dream come true.
The learning of the jazz standards, the practice done by playing a Brazilian music in bars and the stamina of her creativity all filtered into songs that would either gain live in paper or in chords. One after another. Well thought melodies with images inside. «I Would Love To», «Don`t Let Me Down», «Why Should I», among other songs that came together in an EP («My Funny Clementine»). The emphasis on the starting theme was obvious: «Not There Yet». A triple time rhythm, like a jazz waltz, colorful, an imposing chorus and violins in heaven. The record composition wasn’t to become limited to the English language. Between trips to and from Portugal, Luisa performed at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Stock 2009. At this gig she mentions how much she would like to have a song in Portuguese. Upon her return to the States Luisa sketches a poem and melody for “O Engraxador” (the shoe shine man). That is followed by “Xico and Dolores”. For the upcoming record the will for a Portuguese cover song was still very much present. Nobody would be better to fill this part than Rui Veloso, artist that Luisa’s father listens to insistently. Luisa registers Carlos Te’s lyric and tries a different version of “Saiu para a Rua”.
«The Cherry on my Cake» is the result of all of this: of the person who dreams to live in Paris - totally inspired by French cinema. Result of the hectic New York vibe, of the familiar affection for Lisbon. From Regina Spektor to Elis Regina. From Billie Holiday to Bjork. From the 50’s to ingenuousness. From sound to image. From voice and talent: “I have a good life” she concludes.
You Won't Take Long
Luísa Sobral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think of you each spring
Sometimes it rains here
And all I want near
Is your smile
I’ve tried to socialize
Meet up with other guys
Lacks something you had
So I would say goodbye
Any chance
You would come back tomorrow?
Any chance
You would come back today?
Dinner’s ready
No one’s home
So we’ll be all alone
Just tell me that you won't take long
I’ll forget you somehow
Find love again but now
I’ll sit and wait here
´Cause maybe you’re near
and you won't take long
Luísa Sobral's song "You Won't Take Long" is a song about missing someone who has left and hoping that they will come back. In the first verse, the singer talks about how they still think about this person every spring, and how when it rains, they wish that person was there with them. They have tried to move on and meet other people, but no one seems to compare to the one that got away.
The chorus is a plea for this person to come back into their life. They invite them over for dinner, stating that they will be alone. They just want to hear that they won't take long to come back. The singer admits that they will try to move on and find love again, but they are still waiting for this person to return. The song ends with the hope that this person is nearby and will come back soon.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s been so long but still
Even though it has been a long time since we were together, I still think of you every spring.
I think of you each spring
Every spring, I am reminded of you and the memories we share.
Sometimes it rains here
In the rainy weather, I am left feeling a little lonely and wanting your presence more than ever.
And all I want near
All I desire is to have you be close by my side.
Is your smile
Your smile brings comfort and joy to me, and that's what I crave the most.
I’ve tried to socialize
I have tried to move on with my life and meet other people.
Meet up with other guys
I date other men, but none of them are like you, and they all lack something special that you had.
But somehow each man
For some reason, every man I meet falls short of you in some way.
Lacks something you had
They are missing the unique and endearing qualities that made me fall in love with you.
So I would say goodbye
I end things with them because I know deep down it's you I truly want.
Any chance
Is there any possibility?
You would come back tomorrow?
Will you return to me tomorrow?
You would come back today?
Can I expect you to come back today?
Dinner’s ready
I have prepared dinner for us to share together.
No one’s home
There is no one else here, and we will have privacy together.
So we’ll be all alone
We will have time to spend together without any interruptions or distractions.
Just tell me that you won't take long
Please reassure me that you won't be gone for too long, I don't want to spend another moment without you.
I’ll forget you somehow
If you don't come back, I will try to forget you, but it won't be easy.
Find love again but now
I will try to move on and look for love with someone else, but it will be a long and difficult journey.
I’ll sit and wait here
I will wait here for you, hoping you will come back to me.
´Cause maybe you’re near
Perhaps you are close by, and that's why I feel you might return.
and you won't take long
Please come back soon, I cannot bear another moment without you.
Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.