Garota de Ipanema
Orquestra 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 "A-a-a-h"
When she walks she's like a samba
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 "A-a-a-h"
Oh, but I watch her so sadly
How can I tell her I love her
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day as 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. She just doesn't see
No, she just doesn't

Overall Meaning

see

Orquestra's song Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema) is a tribute to the beauty and allure of a young woman who walks the beach of Ipanema, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lyrics describe the girl as tall, tan, and young, with a lovely and captivating presence. As she walks, she moves like a samba, with a gentle and cool sway. Everyone on the beach who sees her is struck by her beauty and says "A-a-a-h."

Despite the attention she receives from others, the singer watches her sadly, as he longs for her love but knows he cannot have it. He would give his heart gladly, but as she walks to the sea each day, she looks straight ahead and does not notice him. The singer smiles when she passes, but she doesn't see him. The song captures the bittersweet feeling of longing for someone who is unattainable, yet impossible to forget.

Line by Line Meaning

Tall and tan and young and lovely
Describing the girl from Ipanema as being tall, tanned, young and beautiful.

The girl from Ipanema goes walking
The girl from Ipanema is walking.

And when she passes, each one she passes
Everybody she walks by looks at her in awe.

Goes "A-a-a-h"
Speechless, just releasing a sound of amazement.

When she walks she's like a samba
The way she walks is like a samba dance.

That swings so cool and sways so gentle
Her walk is so cool and smooth that it looks gentle.

That when she passes, each one she passes
Everyone she walks by looks at her in awe.

Goes "A-a-a-h"
Speechless, just releasing a sound of amazement.

Oh, but I watch her so sadly
The singer is watching her with sadness because he loves her but cannot have her.

How can I tell her I love her
The singer is wondering how to tell her that he loves her.

Yes, I would give my heart gladly
The singer is willing to give his heart to her if she accepts his love.