Lyrics
In both the Portuguese and English versions of the lyrics, "it" is a stick, a stone, a sliver of glass, a scratch, a cliff, a knot in the wood, a fish, a pin, the end of the road, and many other things, although some specific references to Brazilian culture (festa da cumeeira, Cachaça, garrafa de cana), flora (Aspidosperma macrocarpon, peroba do campo), folklore and fauna (Tapera naevia, Matita Pereira) were intentionally omitted from the English version, perhaps with the goal of providing a more universal perspective. All these details swirling around the central metaphor of the cascading "waters of March" can give the impression of the passing of daily life and its continual, inevitable progression towards death, just as the rains of March mark the end of a Brazilian summer. Both sets of lyrics speak of "the promise of life," perhaps allowing for other, more life-affirming interpretations, and the English contains the additional phrases "the joy in your heart" and the "promise of spring," a seasonal reference that would be more relevant to most of the English-speaking world. When writing the English lyrics, Jobim endeavored to avoid words with Latin language, Latin roots, which resulted in the English version having more verses than the Portuguese. Nevertheless, the English version still contains some words from Latin origin, such as ''promise, dismay, plan, pain, mountain, distance'' and ''mule''. Another way in which the English lyrics differ from the Portuguese is that the English version treats March from the perspective of an observer in the northern hemisphere. In this context, the waters are the "waters of defrost" in contrast to the rains referred to in the original Portuguese, marking the end of summer and the beginning of the colder season in the southern hemisphere. Composer-guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves relates that Jobim told him that writing in this kind of Stream of consciousness (narrative mode), stream of consciousness was his version of therapy and saved him thousands in psychoanalysis bills.Versions
1970s
* The first recording of this song (Portuguese version) appeared on an EP released in May, 1972, named ''O Tom de Antonio Carlos Jobim e o Tal de João Bosco''. This EP was released as a bonus included in the Brazilian periodical ''O Pasquim'' and was never reissued again. This type of vinyl record album was known as a "disco do bolso" ("record for your pocket"). At the time, it was considered more of a novelty promotional item for the magazine rather than one of Jobim's seminal works. For that reason, existing copies of this recording are very rare. * The second recording was on Elis Regina, Elis Regina's album ''Elis (1972 album), Elis'' (1972), which was the first in a series of three consecutive self-titled solo albums by Elis Regina. * The third recording was on Jobim's seventh album, ''Jobim (album), Jobim'' (1973, reissued 2000). Album was titled ''Matita Perê'' in Brazil without additional English version of song. * João Gilberto's recording from ''João Gilberto (1973 album), João Gilberto'' (1973) is known for its considerable deviation in rhythm and meter from the original. * Italian singer Mina (Italian singer), Mina sings it as "La Pioggia di Marzo" ("The Rain of March") on her album ''Frutta e verdura'' (1973). Orchestra arranged & conducted by Pino Presti. *Georges Moustaki recorded his version of the song as "Les Eaux de Mars" on the album ''Déclaration'' (1973). * What many reviewers consider to be the definitive recording of the song is the duet sung by Jobim and Elis Regina on the album ''Elis & Tom'' (1974). * Stan Getz and João Gilberto recorded a version on their joint album ''The Best of Two Worlds'' (1976), with Portuguese lyrics sung by Gilberto and English lyrics sung by Miúcha, Gilberto's wife at the time. *Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 recorded this song on the album ''Vintage 74 (Sérgio Mendes album), Vintage 74'' (1974). Jobim played guitar on this track. * Art Garfunkel recorded the song on his solo album ''Breakaway (Art Garfunkel album), Breakaway'' (1975). His recording is similar to the 1973 ''Jobim'' recording in inflection, rhythm, and evocation of the song. * Jack Parnell recorded the song on his album ''Braziliana'' (1977) *Mark Murphy (singer), Mark Murphy recorded this song on the album ''Stolen Moments'' (1978). *Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '88 recorded this song on the album ''Brasil '88'' (Elektra 6E-134, 1978).1980s
* Jobim and Gal Costa recorded a live English version on the album, ''Rio Revisited'' (Verve/Polygram, 1989). * New Zealand jazz singer Malcolm McNeill recorded an English version in 1982 that was released on ''Malcolm McNeill'' (Kiwi-Pacific Records International Ltd., 1985).1990s
*Joanne Brackeen recorded a version on her Concord Jazz album ''Breath of Brazil'' (1991). *Susannah McCorkle also released a bilingual version on her album ''From Bessie to Brazil'' (1993). It was repeated in her album ''Most Requested Songs'' (2001). Her version of the song was played over the closing credits of the 2002 documentary Comedian (film), ''Comedian'', featuring Jerry Seinfeld. *Carlos Berlanga recorded the song in Portuguese with Ana Belén on his album ''Indicios'' (1994). * David Byrne (musician), David Byrne and Marisa Monte recorded the song for the benefit compilation album ''Red Hot + Rio'' (Polygram Records, 1996). *Trio Esperança recorded a Portuguese version on ''Segundo'' (1996). * The New York City group Cibo Matto performed the song in Portuguese for their EP ''Super Relax'' (1997). *Al Jarreau recorded this song on the album ''A Twist of Jobim'' (by various artists, for Polygram Records, 1997). * Smoke City recorded a version of this song entitled "Águas de Março (Joga Bossa Mix)" for their album ''Flying Away'' (1997). *Israelis, Israeli singers Gidi Gov and Mika Karni recorded a Hebrew version of the song titled "Ve Ha-Geshem Yavo" ("And the rain will come") on ''Laila Gov 2'' (1997). * Basia Trzetrzelewska, Basia recorded a version that was later included on the release of ''Clear Horizon: The Best of Basia'' (1998). * Rosa Passos recorded the song in Portuguese on ''O Melhor de Rosa Passos'' (1997). * Lani Hall recorded the English lyrics version in on her album ''Brasil Nativo'' (1998). *Paula West recorded a version on her album ''Restless'' (1999).2000s
*John Pizzarelli recorded the song three times, first in a duet with Rosemary Clooney on her album ''Brazil (Rosemary Clooney album), Brazil'' (2000), then on his album ''Bossa Nova (John Pizzarelli album), Bossa Nova'' (2004), and then in a duet with his wife Jessica Molaskey on her album ''Sitting in Limbo (album), Sitting in Limbo'' (2007). This version combines the song with Joni Mitchell's "The Circle Game (song), The Circle Game". * Jazz singer Emilie-Claire Barlow performed an English version with partial Portuguese lyrics on her album ''Tribute'' (2001). * Jazz singer Jane Monheit recorded a version in English on her album ''Come Dream with Me'' (2001). *Cassandra Wilson recorded the English version on her album ''Belly of the Sun'' (Blue Note, 2002). * Japanese jazz/pop singer Akiko Yano recorded a duet of the piece in English with Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister as a single (2002); it was later featured on the UK Salvo label's ''The Essential Swing Out Sister'' (SALVOCD069, 2014) * Ireland, Irish singers Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan recorded a version in Portuguese for the movie ''Goldfish Memory'' (2003). * Oscar Castro-Neves recorded an English version on his album ''Playful Heart'' (Mack Avenue Records, 2003). * Richard "Bob" Greene, of The Bobs, recorded a version on his solo album ''Low? Bottom? Me?'' (2003), with guest vocalist Angie Doctor. * Bossacucanova recorded the English version on their album ''Uma Batida Differente'' (2004). * Argentinian pop/rock artist Fito Páez recorded the song live 11/6/2002 from Rio de Janeiro. It was released on the live album ''Mi Vida Con Ellas'' (2004). *Lisa Ono released the song on the album ''Best 1997-2001'' (2004) as a bonus track. It was recorded live at Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, on December 8 & 10, 2002010s
* Stacey Kent recorded a version in French ("Les Eaux De Mars") on her album ''Raconte-Moi'' (2010), with lyrics from Georges Moustaki. * French-Beninese singer Mina Agossi included her jazz version of "Waters of March" on her album ''Just Like A lady'' (2010). * Uwe Schmidt, Atom, Toshiyuki Yasuda, Fernanda Takai and Moreno Veloso recorded a version for the Red Hot Organization compilation ''Red Hot + Rio 2'' (2011), all proceeds from which go to AIDS/HIV research and education. * Mexican vocalist Eugenia León recorded a Spanish language version, "Aguas de marzo." (2011) *Charlie Sheen and Katheryn Winnick recorded "Águas de Março" for the film ''A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III'' (2013). * Brad Mehldau's "When It Rains (Brad Mehldau song), When It Rains" on his album ''Largo'' (2003) is a re-harmonisation of Waters of March. * ''Gloria (2013 film), Gloria'' (2013) has a scene with "Águas de Março" performed by Hugo Moraga and other musicians. * Dieudonné M'bala M'bala adapts the lyrics which he interprets in duo with his wife Noémie Montagne to describe a rising civil unrest in France (2014). * Jazztronik performed a cover for their album ''Vamos La Brasil'' (2014). * Natalie Dessay, Agnès Jaoui, Helena Noguerra, and Liat Cohen perform "Les Eaux de Mars" on the album, ''Rio-Paris'' (2014). * Edgar Ramirez recorded a short fifty-six-seconds cover for the soundtrack of the movie ''Joy (film), Joy'' (2015). * Nataly Dawn of Pomplamoose & Carlos Cabrera recorded the song, available as a video on YouTube (2015). * Eliane Elias included the song in her album ''Made in Brazil (album), Made in Brazil'' (2015) together with the vocal group Take 6. * The The Company (vocal group), CompanY, a Philippines, Filipino Vocal Group included a version in their (2015) album, "Nostalgia". One of the founding members, Moy Ortiz won the Best Vocal Arrangement for the song in the 29th Awit Awards. * Pauline Croze sings ''Les Eaux de Mars'' on her album ''Bossa Nova'' (2016). * Bono included the song as part of the U2 performance of Bad during Joshua Tree Tour 2017 at Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo, Brazil (2017)2020s
* ''The Worst Person in the World (film), The Worst Person in the World'' (2021) includes the Art Garfunkel rendition during the last scene and end credit sequence. * South Korean singer/songwriter Sogumm recorded her version of ''Waters of March'' featuring Keumbee in her album ''Salt Rain (Prod. By Alfie Hole)'' (2022). * As part of their ''An Octave Apart'' theatre show and studio album, Justin Vivian Bond and Anthony Roth Costanzo covered the song as a duet in 2021.Other uses
The song was adapted for use in a series of advertisements for Coca-Cola. These ended with the then current slogan "Coke Is It". This was also used in a 1994 ad for Ayala Malls in the Philippines.See also
*List of jazz standardsReferences
Notes Further reading *Charles A. Perrone wrote about the song in his doctoral dissertation (1985), an abridged version of which was published in Brazil aExternal links