101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening sym… Read Full Bio ↴101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization, with a discography exceeding a hundred albums and a creative lifetime of roughly thirty years. Their LPs were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence", a puffy cloud logo and sepia-toned photo of the orchestra. According to the photograph, the 101 Strings orchestra was composed of 124 string instruments (all male except for the harpist) and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan. The orchestra's famous official photograph was taken in the Musikhalle Hamburg. In reality, of course, the recordings also featured a full brass, woodwind and percussion section, and not quite as many strings as are shown in the photograph. In later years (right up to the 80's), the recordings were made by a session orchestra in London, with a line-up including a modern "pop" rhythm section. In the late 1990's, the 101 Strings Orchestra was revived with "The New 101 Strings Orchestra" for a series of modern recordings.

CARA MIA
101 Strings Orchestra Lyrics

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Cara bel, Cara mia bella
Mia bambina, Oh Ciel!
Che lastima, che lastima
Oh, cara mia
Addio
Oh, mia bambina
Cara, perche non passi lontana?
Si, lontana da schienza

Cara, cara mia bambina
Ah, mia ben
Ah, mia cara, ah mia cara

Ah, mia bambina
Oh, cara, cara mia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 101 Strings Orchestra's song "Cara Mia" are about a woman, referred to as cara bel and mia bambina. The singer expresses regret, saying "Che lastima, che lastima" or "What a shame, what a shame." They bid farewell to their loved one, saying "Addio" or "Goodbye." The singer then asks why the woman cannot pass far away from science and expresses their affection for her, saying "Ah, mia cara, ah mia cara."

The song conveys a sense of longing as well as sadness. The repetition of "cara mia" and "mia bambina" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's love for their partner. The phrase "che lastima" adds a tinge of regret and possibly hints at a missed opportunity to be together. The use of the Italian language adds to the romantic and nostalgic nature of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Cara bel, Cara mia bella
My beautiful and lovely one, my dear love

Mia bambina, Oh Ciel!
My baby girl, oh heavens!

Che lastima, che lastima
What a pity, what a pity

Oh, cara mia
Oh, my dear

Addio
Goodbye

Oh, mia bambina
Oh, my little girl

Cara, perche non passi lontana?
My dear, why don't you go far away?

Si, lontana da schienza
Yes, far away from science

Cara, cara mia bambina
My dear, my baby girl

Ah, mia ben
Oh, my love

Ah, mia cara, ah mia cara
Oh, my dear, oh my dear