Wave

Antonio Carlos Jobim, known as Tom Jobim, is a towering figure in Brazilian music, particularly in the genre of Bossa Nova, which blends samba and jazz to create a distinctive and soothing sound. His song 'Wave' is a testament to his mastery of melody and his deep understanding of the complexities of love. The lyrics of 'Wave' are a poetic reflection on the essential nature of love and the loneliness of existence without it.

The opening lines, 'Vou te contar / Que os olhos já nem podem ver / Coisas que só o coração pode entender,' which translate to 'I'm going to tell you / That the eyes can no longer see / Things that only the heart can understand,' set the tone for the song. They suggest that love transcends the physical realm, touching on the ineffable and the spiritual. The repeated assertion that 'Fundamental é mesmo o amor / É impossível ser feliz sozinho' ('Love is fundamental / It's impossible to be happy alone') underscores the idea that love is not just a part of life but the very core of it.

The song's structure, with its recurring motifs and the repetition of the word 'Sozinho' ('Alone'), emphasizes the message of the lyrics. The mention of the city and the quay in the lines 'Da primeira vez, era a cidade / Da segunda, o cais, a eternidade' ('The first time, it was the city / The second, the quay, eternity') could symbolize different stages in life or in a relationship, with 'eternity' underscoring the timeless nature of love. The wave, a central metaphor in the song, represents the powerful, surging force of love that rises from the sea of emotions. Jobim's use of the natural world to illustrate the human condition is a hallmark of his lyrical style. 'Wave' is not just a song; it's a gentle reminder of the universal need for connection and the beauty that lies in the shared human experience of love.