Chega de saudade
Quincy Jones & Antonio Carlos Jobim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I'm down on Delancey Street
From the Bow'ry to St Marks
There's a syncopated beat
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo
I'm streetwise
I can improvise
I'm street-smart
I've got New York City heart
Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
I may not have a dime
But I got street savoir-faire
Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
It's just bebopulation
And I got street savoir-faire
The rhythm of the city
But once you get it down
Then you can own this town
You can wear the crown
Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
I may not have a dime
But I got street savoir-faire
Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
It's just doo-bopulation
And I got street savoir-faire
Everything goes
Everything fits
They love me at the Chelsea
They adore me at the Ritz
Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
And even when I cross that line
I got street savoir-faire
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo...
The song Chega De Saudade, written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and originally recorded in Portuguese, was later adapted with English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and became a hit in the US. The song is about a person who may not have much monetary wealth but has "street savoir-faire," a deep understanding of the city, its music, and its rhythm. The lyrics describe the life of someone who navigates through different neighborhoods in New York city, from Central Park to Delancey Street, and is familiar with the syncopated beats and rhythms of the city. The singer is street-smart and improvises to make the most of every situation.
The chorus of the song repeats the question, "Why should I worry? Why should I care?" The answer seems to be that the singer doesn't need to worry because they have the street-smarts and mindset to make it in the city. They may not have a lot of money, but they have everything they need to succeed. The song expresses the confidence of someone who has mastered the city and is comfortable in their own skin.
One interesting fact about the song is that Jon Hendricks, who wrote the English lyrics, is considered one of the pioneers of vocalese, a style of jazz singing in which lyrics are written to fit melodies originally composed as instrumental pieces. Another interesting fact is that the Portuguese version of the song was first recorded by João Gilberto, one of the creators of the bossa nova genre of music. In addition, the song won a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2001 and has been covered by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and George Benson.
The chords for the song are as follows (with the key of F):
Verse:
F7 Em7b5 A7
One minute I'm in Central Park
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C7
Then I'm down on Delancey Street
F7 Em7b5 A7
From the Bowery to St Marks
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C
There's a syncopated beat
Chorus:
F7 Bbm6 A7
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C7
I may not have a dime but I got street savoir-faire
Verse 2:
F7 Em7b5 A7
The rhythm of the city
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C7
But once you get it down
F7 Em7b5 A7
Then you can own this town
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C7
You can wear the crown
Chorus:
F7 Bbm6 A7
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
Dm7(b5) G7(b9) C7
I may not have a dime but I got street savoir-faire
Line by Line Meaning
One minute I'm in Central Park
On one moment I am in a peaceful and serene place like Central Park
Then I'm down on Delancey Street
And the next moment, I am in a completely different place like Delancey Street which has a different atmosphere
From the Bow'ry to St Marks
I explore different places in New York City which have their own unique vibe and culture.
There's a syncopated beat
Every place I go to, there is a unique rhythmic beat that is distinct to that location.
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo
I am excited about this adventure
I'm streetwise
I am knowledgeable and experienced about the streets of New York City
I can improvise
I can easily adapt to the different situations I come across
I'm street-smart
I am intelligent and have common sense about how to thrive in New York City
I've got New York City heart
I have a deep love and passion for this city
Why should I worry?
I have the confidence and the skills to handle any obstacle that comes my way
Why should I care?
I am focused on enjoying my experiences and not letting anything bring me down
I may not have a dime
I may not have a lot of money
But I got street savoir-faire
But I am resourceful and street-smart, which is more important than just having money
It's just bebopulation
There is a lively and energetic atmosphere in New York City that is represented through its music
And I got street savoir-faire
And I have the knowledge and experience to navigate through the city's music scene
The rhythm of the city
The heartbeat of the city that I feel and am a part of
But once you get it down
Once you understand the way things work in the city
Then you can own this town
You can have a sense of belonging and mastery of the city
You can wear the crown
You can be the king or queen of the city, feeling confident and in control
Everything goes
Everything moves fast in the city and anything can happen
Everything fits
You can fit in anywhere in the city, there is always a place for you
They love me at the Chelsea
People appreciate my presence and personality at various places like the Chelsea Hotel
They adore me at the Ritz
I am highly admired and respected by others at places like the Ritz Hotel
And even when I cross that line
Even if I do something wrong or out of character
I got street savoir-faire
I have the experience and knowledge to navigate through the consequences and come out on top
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo
I am still excited about new adventures, even after going through all of these experiences.
Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo...
I am passionate about New York City and everything it has to offer.
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.