Carmen
Bizet / Claudio Abbado / London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics


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L'amour est un oiseau rebelle que nul ne peut apprivoiser
Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle s'il lui convient de refuser
Rien n'y fait, menace ou prière, l'une parle bien, l'autre se tait
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère, elle n'a rien dit, mais elle me plaît

L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
que nul ne peut apprivoiser
c'est bien en vain qu'on
l'appelle s'il lui convient de refuser.

L'amour est enfant de Bohème; il n'a jamais connu de loi
Si tu ne m'aimes pas je t'aime; si je t'aime prends garde à toi!
Prends garde à toi!
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, si tu ne m'aimes pas je t'aime
Prends garde à toi!
Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

L'amour est enfant de Bohème,
Il n'a jamais jamais connu de loi
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi
Prends garde à toi!

Si tu ne m'aimes pas, si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
Prends garde à toi!
Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre battit de l'aile et s'envola
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre : tu ne l'attends pas, il est là
Tout autour de toi, vite vite il vient, s'en va, puis il revient
Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite, tu crois l'éviter, il te tient!

tout autour de toi vite vite,
il vient, s'en va, puis il revient




Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite
Tu crois l'éviter, il te tient!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song Carmen by Bizet, conducted by Claudio Abbado and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, take a somber turn in the third act as the character Micaëla sings of a tragic event. She mourns Captain Walker, who didn't come home, leaving his unborn child to never know him. The lyrics suggest that Captain Walker has gone missing with a number of men, indicating the possibility of a tragedy or accident. Micaëla sadly tells us that she doesn't expect to see him again, leaving the listener with a sense of sadness and loss.


Line by Line Meaning

Captain Walker
The person named Captain Walker


Didn't come home
Failed to return to his residence


His unborn child
The offspring he has yet to bring into the world


Will never know him
The child will not have the opportunity to become acquainted with their father


Believe him missing
Hold the belief that he is absent


With a number of men
In the company of multiple individuals


Don't expect
Should not anticipate


To see him again
To have another encounter with him




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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