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Tommy Emmanuel Lyrics

When my baby
The song starts when the singer talks about his state of mind when he sees his lover smiling.

When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio
The image of his lover smiling makes him happy and transports his mind to Rio - the land of samba, salsa, and sensuousness.

De Janeiro, my-oh-me-oh
The singer adds a bit of melodrama, emphasizing the excitement he feels when he imagines himself in Rio.

I go wild and then I have to do the Samba
He describes his impulsive behavior as he gets caught up in the rhythm of the music and the cultural frenzy of samba.

And La Bamba
As the song blends Latino and Brazilian music, the singer throws in another Latin American classic, La Bamba.

Now I'm not the kind of person
The singer characterizes himself as an unmusical person who isn't inclined to dancing or romancing.

With a passionate persuasion for dancin'
He reiterates his point by stating that dancing doesn't come naturally to him, but he enjoys and becomes involved with music.

Or roma-ancin'
He doesn't usually indulge in romantic gestures or grand displays of affection.

But I give in to the rhythm
Music is his weakness, and he submits to its pull and enjoys getting lost in it.

And my feet follow the beatin' of my hear-eart
His heart beats in time with the music, and his feet dutifully dance along with the pulse of the music.

Woh-ho-oh-oh, when my baby
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the transformative effect of his lover's smile.

I'm a Salsa fellow
By this point in the song, he's no longer just a guy who can dance samba - he's graduated to an all-around salsa dancer.

The sun'll lightens up my li-ife
The sun referred to in this line represents the force of hope and optimism that his lover's smile brings to his life.

And I am free at last, what a blast
The singer feels liberated and alive when he's near his lover, and his happy mood is infectious.

I feel like Tarzan, of the Jungle
As the song continues, he becomes more and more poetic, likening his lover's smile to the power and freedom of Tarzan.

There on the hot sand
He imagines them in another fantastical tropical setting - lying together on hot sand.

And in a bungalow while monkeys play above-a
The singer paints an idyllic scene, where he and his lover are in a bungalow surrounded by nature, with monkeys playing around them.

We-ee make love-a
Finally, he takes the song to its ultimate climax, describing the physical attraction he feels for his lover and the passion they share.

Now I'm not the type to let vibrations (Rio)
The singer contradicts himself and admits to becoming sexually aroused by the pulsating energy of Rio.

Trigger my imagination easily (Rio)
He admits that Rio stimulates his imagination and creativity.

You know that's just not me
He acknowledges that he's not typically drawn to poetic or imaginative pursuits, but Rio's allure is irresistible.

But I turn into a tiger (Rio)
The singer undergoes a transformation, becoming a passionate and powerful force when he's in Rio and with his lover.

Every time I get beside the - one I love (Rio)
Whether in Rio or not, being with his lover brings out the best in him, igniting his passion and unleashing his joy.

Woh, oh, woh, woh-oh, Rio - Rio
The song comes full circle, as the chorus repeats and the singer's lover's smile brings him back to Rio.

Yeah Ugh - Rio - Ugh
The final words, a guttural sound, express his primal, instinctual connection to both his lover and the sensual energy of Rio.

That's when I go to Rio (Rio)
Repeating the title for emphasis, he confirms that his lover's smile is the catalyst that takes him to Rio, a place of love, freedom, and passion.

Rio - Rio De Janeir-eiro
The song fades out, repeating the name of the Brazilian city, which has now become a synonym for love, freedom, and unbridled passion.