O mio Babbino Caro
Charlotte Church/London Welsh Male Voice Choir/The London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics


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O mio babbino caro
Mi piace, è bello bello
Vo andare in porta rossa
A comperar l'anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
E se l'amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttaarmi in Arno
Mi struggo e mi tormento
O dio, vorrei morir




Babbo, pietà, pietà
Babbo, pietà, pietà

Overall Meaning

The song "O Mio Babbino Caro" is a touching and emotive aria sung by a young woman named Lauretta, who pleads with her father to allow her to marry the man she loves. The lyrics are full of strong emotions as Lauretta tells her father how much she loves her boyfriend and how desperate she is to be able to marry him. The aria is full of beautiful imagery and metaphors, with the line "I want to go to the red door to buy the ring" evoking the idea of a young girl looking forward to the excitement and romance of marriage.


The song takes a dark turn towards the end, as Lauretta expresses her anguish and desperation, saying that she would rather die than live without her love. The lyrics are full of heartbreak and despair as she implores her father to show her mercy and allow her to be with the man she loves. Through her performance, Charlotte Church demonstrates her incredible vocal range and emotional depth, bringing the song to life in a way that is both powerful and poignant.


~The song was composed by Giacomo Puccini in 1918 and is part of the opera "Gianni Schicchi."
~It is a popular choice for operatic sopranos and has been covered many times by pop singers, including Charlotte Church.
~It has been featured in several films and TV shows, including "Room with a View" and "The Sopranos."
~The title translates to "Oh my dear father."
~The song is set in Florence, Italy, and references several iconic landmarks in the city, including the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno river.
~The aria is known for its challenging vocal range and requires a skilled soprano to perform it properly.
~It has been featured in numerous commercials, including a memorable 1990s ad for fish sticks.
~The song has been covered in different languages, including Spanish and Japanese.
~It has been performed by many famous opera singers, including Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, and Montserrat Caballe.
~The song is often used in pop culture as a shorthand for classical music, with characters in films and TV shows often singing or humming the melody to indicate that they are cultured or well-educated.


Chords: Unknown.


Line by Line Meaning

O mio babbino caro
Oh my dear daddy


Mi piace, è bello bello
I like him, he is handsome


Vo andare in porta rossa
I want to go to the red door


A comperar l'anello!
To buy the ring!


Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
Yes, yes, I want to go there


E se l'amassi indarno
And if my love is in vain


Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
I would go to Ponte Vecchio


Ma per buttaarmi in Arno
But to throw myself in the Arno


Mi struggo e mi tormento
I am consumed by longing and torment


O dio, vorrei morir
Oh God, I would like to die


Babbo, pietà, pietà
Daddy, have mercy, have mercy


Babbo, pietà, pietà
Daddy, have mercy, have mercy




Lyrics © Histoire et Chansons, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: KILIAN FORSTER, TOBIAS FORSTER, TIM HAHN, GIACOMO PUCCINI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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