Rio
Nico Gomez And His Orchestra Lyrics


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Whadda they do on a rainy night in Rio?
Whadda they do when there is no starry sky?
Where do they go when they can't go for a walk?
Do they sit at home and talk,
Or do they sit and sigh, ""Aye Aye!""?

Where do they woo on a rainy night in Rio?
How can a guy meet a sweetheart by the sea?
Maybe the girl wants a tender kiss, and yet,
How tender can you get
When you're beneath a wet palm tree?

Whadda they do in Mississippi
When skies are drippy?
And whadda they do when it's murky
In Alberquerque?
And whadda they do in Old Arkoona
When the moon above ain't bright?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!

But whadda they do when skies are dreary
Along Lake erie?
And whadda they do in St Louis
When nights are dewy?
And whadda they do in Colorado
When a shadow dims the light?
Well, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!





Yes, that's what they do in Rio
On a rainy night!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nico Gomez And His Orchestra's song Rio are a series of questions and musings about what people do in Rio de Janeiro on a rainy night. The singer wonders if they stay home and talk or if they sit and sigh, longing for better weather. He also ponders where people go to woo their sweethearts in the rain, and questions how romantic it can be to kiss beneath a wet palm tree. The chorus repeats the phrase "whadda they do in Rio on a rainy night" as a sort of refrain, suggesting that there must be some sort of answer to these questions.


The lyrics then shift to asking what people in other parts of the world do when the weather is bad, mentioning places like Mississippi, Alberquerque, and Colorado. The singer seems to be reflecting on the universal experience of dealing with bad weather, and the way it can put a damper on romantic plans or just make people feel stuck indoors.


Overall, the lyrics of Rio are playful and curious, expressing a sense of wonder about how people live their lives in different parts of the world. The song's upbeat tempo, horn section, and Latin rhythms create a cheerful, danceable atmosphere that beckons listeners to imagine themselves in Rio, rain or shine.


Line by Line Meaning

Whadda they do on a rainy night in Rio?
How do they spend their time when it's raining in Rio?


Whadda they do when there is no starry sky?
What do they do when the stars are not visible?


Where do they go when they can't go for a walk?
What is their alternative to walking?


Do they sit at home and talk, Or do they sit and sigh, "Aye Aye!"?
Are they engaging in conversation or expressing their sadness?


Where do they woo on a rainy night in Rio?
Where is a romantic place to go when it's raining in Rio?


How can a guy meet a sweetheart by the sea?
What are the chances of a romantic encounter by the sea?


Maybe the girl wants a tender kiss, and yet, How tender can you get When you're beneath a wet palm tree?
Perhaps the girl desires a gentle kiss, but it's challenging when it's raining under a palm tree.


Whadda they do in Mississippi When skies are drippy?
How do people in Mississippi spend their time when it's rainy?


And whadda they do when it's murky In Alberquerque?
What do people in Albuquerque do when it's a gloomy day?


And whadda they do in Old Arkoona When the moon above ain't bright?
How do they spend their time in Old Arkoona when it's a dark night?


But whadda they do when skies are dreary Along Lake erie?
What activities are there to do when it's a dull day next to Lake Erie?


And whadda they do in St Louis When nights are dewy?
How do people in St Louis enjoy their time when nights are damp?


And whadda they do in Colorado When a shadow dims the light?
What is there to do in Colorado when it's a shadowy day?


Well, that's what they do in Rio On a rainy night!
This is how people spend their time in Rio when it's raining.


Yes, that's what they do in Rio On a rainy night!
Confirming that this is, indeed, how they spend their time in Rio when it's raining.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, LEO ROBIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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