Insensatez
Robert Wyatt Lyrics


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How insensitive I must have seemed
When he told me that he loved me
How unmoved and cold I must have seemed
When he told me so sincerely

Why, he must have asked
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence?
What was I to say?
What can you say
When a love affair is over?

Now he's gone away, but I'm alone
With the memory of his last look
Vague and drawn and sad, I see it still
All his heartbreak in that last look

Why, he must have asked
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence?
What was I to do?




What can you do
When a love affair is over?

Overall Meaning

Wyatt's version of "Insensatez" (translated as "How Insensitive") is a cover of a bossa nova classic originally written by Brazilian songwriters Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. The lyrics describe the aftermath of a failed love affair, with the singer regretting their own emotional distance during the relationship and grappling with the lingering pain of their ex-partner's departure.


One interpretation of the lyrics is that the singer is dealing with feelings of guilt and inadequacy in the wake of the breakup. They recognize that their aloofness likely contributed to the deterioration of the relationship, but at the same time they feel powerless to change the past. The refrain of "What was I to do? What can you do when a love affair is over?" suggests a painful acknowledgement of the limitations of personal agency in matters of the heart.


The song's melancholy tone is underlined by Wyatt's haunting vocals and sparse instrumentation, which emphasize the sense of isolation and regret in the lyrics. Overall, "Insensatez" is an affecting meditation on the difficulty of moving on from a relationship, and the ways in which we can become our own worst enemies in matters of love.


Line by Line Meaning

How insensitive I must have seemed
I appeared to be uncaring


When he told me that he loved me
When he expressed his love for me


How unmoved and cold I must have seemed
I appeared devoid of emotions


When he told me so sincerely
When he expressed his sincerity


Why, he must have asked
He must have wondered


Did I just turn and stare in icy silence?
Did I coldly stare at him without saying a word?


What was I to say?
What could I have said?


What can you say
What can be said


When a love affair is over?
When a romantic relationship has ended?


Now he's gone away, but I'm alone
He's gone, but I'm left by myself


With the memory of his last look
I have the recollection of his final expression


Vague and drawn and sad, I see it still
I still see his blurry, melancholy expression


All his heartbreak in that last look
I sense his deep emotional pain in that final look


What was I to do?
What choice did I have?


What can you do
What actions can be taken


When a love affair is over?
When a romantic relationship has ended?




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vinicius De Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Roberto Carlos Braga

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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