Lyrics to “Insensatez” (“Foolishness” or “Folly”), 1961
Music by Tom Jobim, Lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes
—
Ah, foolishness
What have you done
Such a reckless heart
You made cry from pain
Your love
Such a delicate love
Ah, why were you
So weak that way
In such a soulless way
Ah, my heart
That never loved
Doesn’t deserve to be loved
Go on, my heart
Listen to reason
Use only sincerity
He who sows wind
So says reason
Always reaps storms
Go on, my heart
Plead forgiveness
Forgiveness, in love
Go on
Because he who doesn’t plead forgiveness
Is never forgiven
— Interpretation —
This bossa nova classic already has an English version – “How Insensitive,” with lyrics by Norman Gimbel– but the lyrics are very different from the original Portuguese. Tom’s music recalls Chopin’s Prelude in E minor (op. 28, no. 4), which he recognized as an inspiration.
Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes met in 1956, when they worked together for the first time on the soundtrack for Vinicius’s play “Orfeu da Conceição.” The pair went on to compose nearly 50 songs together, including some of the most iconic bossa nova songs like “Garota de Ipanema” (1962), “Se todas fossem iguais a você” (1956, for Orfeu da Conceição), and “Eu sei que vou te amar.”
João Gilberto recorded “Insensatez” in 1961.
Post by Victoria Broadus
