"Chega de Saudade" (often translated to English as No More Blues) is considered the first Bossa nova song. Composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim (music) and Vinícius de Moraes (lyrics) it became popular in the interpretation by João Gilberto (). It was first recorded by Elizete Cardoso on her album Canção do Amor Demais but the public did not take notice of that release, and Gilberto's own recording, shortly afterwards as a single, made it a hit.

The title can be translated roughly as "enough longing", though the Portuguese word saudade carries with it a far more complex meaning. The word implies an intensity of heartfelt connection that is yearned for passionately; not unlike feeling withdrawal symptoms from a drug that makes one feel good. Another good analogy might be an intense homesickness. Chega, in this case, means no more, enough.

It has been recorded by jazz and rock performers, with the English language title "No More Blues". English lyrics have been written by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh.

In 2000, the João Gilberto version was made a member of the Grammy Hall of Fame. A year later, in 2001, the album which it came from, Gilberto's album Chega de Saudade, was made an inaugural member of the Latin Grammy Awards Hall of Fame.

Lyrics

Vai minha tristeza
E diz a ela
Que sem ela não pode ser
Diz-lhe numa prece
Que ela regresse
Porque eu não posso mais sofrer

Chega de saudade
A realidade
É que sem ela não há paz
Não há beleza
É só tristeza
E a melancolia
Que não sai de mim
Não sai de mim, não sai.

Mas se ela voltar, se ela voltar
Que coisa linda,
Que coisa louca
Pois há menos peixinhos a nadar no mar
Do que os beijinhos
Que eu darei na sua boca.

''Dentro dos meus braços,
Os abraços
Hão de ser milhões de abraços
Apertado assim,
Colado assim,
Calado assim
Abraços e beijinhos
E carinhos sem ter fim
Que é pra acabar com esse negócio
De viver longe de mim
Não quero mais esse negócio
De você viver sem mim
Vamos deixar desse negócio
De você viver sem mim. Go on, my sadness
And tell her
That without her it cannot be
Tell her in a prayer
To come back to me
Because I cannot suffer anymore

Enough longing
The reality
Is that without her there's no peace
There's no beauty
There's only sadness
And the melancholy
That won't leave me
Won't leave me, won't leave.

But if she comes back, if she comes back
What a beautiful thing
What a crazy thing
Cause there are fewer fish swimming in the sea
Than the little kisses
I shall give her on her mouth.

Inside my arms,
The hugs,
They will be a million hugs
So tight like this,
Together like this,
Silent like this
Hugs and little kisses
And endless caresses
That is for you to stop this thing
Of living away from me
I don't want this thing anymore
Of you living without me
Let's stop this thing
Of you living without me.

External links

• + History of BOSSA NOVA with audio and video samples, by ABDB