The guitar tab (chords and melody) for “Once I Loved” is available for download as a PDF.
Once I Loved
“Once I Loved” (“O Amor em Paz”) was composed in 1960 by Antônio Carlos Jobim with lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes during the early bossa nova movement in Rio de Janeiro. An English lyric by Ray Gilbert broadened its reach. The song’s gentle harmonic shifts and understated melancholy exemplify the intimate, apartment-born aesthetic that defined the era.
Notable recordings include João Gilberto’s hushed interpretations and Frank Sinatra’s 1967 version with Jobim on the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. Jazz musicians embraced it for its subtle modulations and conversational phrasing, often stretching its pauses in performance. Its reflective lyric—love remembered without bitterness—remains quietly disarming.
Video
In the video below, I perform the piece as transcribed.
Guitar Tab
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