The Habanera Songfacts reports that the habanera is a genre of Cuban popular dance music of the 19th century, which was brought back to Spain by sailors, where it became popular for a while and was danced by all classes of society. This aria was so called because it was written in the rhythm of the Cuban dance.
See also the famous performance by Maria Callas - Habanera.
Habanera
Georges Bizet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
Et c’est bien in vain qu’on l’appelle
S’il lui convient de refuser.
Rien n’y fait, menace ou prière.
L’un parle bien, l’autre se tait.
Et c’est l’autre que je préfère.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!
L’amour est enfant de Bohême,
Il n’a jamais jamais connu de loi.
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime.
Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime,
Mais si je t’aime, si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
L’oiseau que tu croyais surprendere
Battit d’aile et s’envola.
L’amour est loin, tu peux l’attendre.
Tu ne l’attends pas, il est là.
Tout atour de toi, vite vite,
Il vient, s’en va, puis il revient.
Tu crois le tenir, il t’evite.
Tu crois l’eviter, il te tient.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!
L’amour est enfant de Bohême,
Il n’a jamais jamais connu de loi.
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime.
Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime,
Mais si je t’aime, si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
The Habanera song from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen is about the unpredictable nature of love. The first verse talks about how love is a rebellious bird that no one can tame. No matter how much we plead with it, it can still reject us. In the second verse, the singer states that no amount of threats or supplications can change the bird's untamed ways. She prefers someone who says nothing, but she finds very pleasing.
The refrain of the song repeats "L'amour" (meaning love) as if the singer is trying to grasp the concept of it. The third verse says that love is a child of Bohemia, and it has never known any laws or rules. It expresses how love can be unpredictable, and it might not always be mutual. Sometimes, you may love someone, but they might not love you back, and vice versa. The fourth verse talks about how love comes and goes, and we might be waiting for it or avoiding it, but it always finds a way to hold on or slip through our fingers.
Overall, the song is an expression of the singer's feelings towards love as a whole. It praises its beauty and power, but also acknowledges its elusive nature, which makes it hard to understand or predict.
Line by Line Meaning
L’amour est un oiseau rebelle
Love is a wild bird
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
That no one can tame,
Et c’est bien in vain qu’on l’appelle
And it is in vain that we call it,
S’il lui convient de refuser.
If it chooses to refuse.
Rien n’y fait, menace ou prière.
Nothing works, neither threats nor prayers.
L’un parle bien, l’autre se tait.
One speaks well, the other remains silent.
Et c’est l’autre que je préfère.
And it's the other one that I prefer.
Il n’a rien dit mais il me plait.
He hasn't said anything but I like him.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!
Love! Love! Love! Love!
L’amour est enfant de Bohême,
Love is a child of Bohemia,
Il n’a jamais jamais connu de loi.
It has never known any laws.
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime.
If you don't love me, I love you.
Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
If I love you, beware!
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime,
If you don't love me, if you don't love me, I love you,
Mais si je t’aime, si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
But if I love you, if I love you, beware!
L’oiseau que tu croyais surprendere
The bird that you thought to catch
Battit d’aile et s’envola.
Flapped its wings and flew away.
L’amour est loin, tu peux l’attendre.
Love is far away, you can wait for it.
Tu ne l’attends pas, il est là.
You don't wait for it, it's already here.
Tout autour de toi, vite vite,
All around you, quickly quickly,
Il vient, s’en va, puis il revient.
It comes, goes, then comes back.
Tu crois le tenir, il t’evite.
You think you have it, it avoids you.
Tu crois l’eviter, il te tient.
You think you avoid it, it has you.
L’amour! L’amour! L’amour! L’amour!
Love! Love! Love! Love!
L’amour est enfant de Bohême,
Love is a child of Bohemia,
Il n’a jamais jamais connu de loi.
It has never known any laws.
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime.
If you don't love me, I love you.
Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
If I love you, beware!
Si tou ne m’aimes pas, si tou ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime,
If you don't love me, if you don't love me, I love you,
Mais si je t’aime, si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!
But if I love you, if I love you, beware!
Contributed by Josiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Danadop
It's weird because I don't actually search up for these songs, I get them from YouTube recommendations. You guys might also be looking for these:
La Traviata
Sabre Dance
Entry Of The Gladiators
Spring - Four Seasons
Funiculi Funiculá
Night On Bald Mountain
Put On Your Sunday Clothes
The Second Waltz
Tico Tico No Fubá
Light Cavalry
Waltz To The Death
Minuet - Luigi Boccherini
La Dona E Mobile
@MVWorld2024
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, menaces ou prières
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère
Il n'a rien dit, mais il me plaît
L'amour
L'amour
L'amour
L'amour
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
Si tu ne m'aimes pas...
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
Mais, si je t'aime
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi
Si tu ne m'aimes pas...
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
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 plus, 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
L'amour
L'amour
L'amour
L'amour
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
Si tu ne m'aimes pas...
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
Mais, si je t'aime
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi
Si tu ne m'aimes pas...
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime
Mais, si je t'aime
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi
@iverswagger
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'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère
Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plaît.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
Mais, si je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
Mais, si je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend 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'attend plus, 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!
L'amour, l'amour, l'amour, l'amour!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême...
@TheWaldfreak
Love is a rebellious bird
that no one can tame,
and if you call for it, it'll be quite in vain
for it's in its nature to say no.
Nothing helps, neither a threat nor a prayer
one talks well, the other rests silent
and it's the other one that i prefere
doesn't say a thing, but pleases me.
Love! Love! Love! Love!
Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, never known what law is,
if you do not love me, i love you
if i love you, then beware!
if you do not love me,
if you do not love me, i love you!
but if i love you,
if i love you, then beware!
The bird you thought you had caught by surprise
beats its wings and flies away...
love lies afar, you can wait for it
and when you don't expect it anymore, there it is!
All around you twirls faster, faster
it comes and goes, and then comes back.
you think you've caught it, it eludes you,
you think you've escaped it, it captures you.
Love! Love! Love! Love!
Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, never known what law is,
if you do not love me, i love you
if i love you, then beware!
if you do not love me,
if you do not love me, i love you!
but if i love you,
if i love you, then beware!
@noexivtitebouille5954
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 y fait menace ou prière.
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère,
Il n'a rien dit mais il me plait.
L'Amour, L'Amour, L'Amour.
L'Amour est enfant de bohème,
Il n'a jamais jamais connu de lois.
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime.
Si je t'aime prend garde à toi.
Prend garde à toi !!
Si tu ne m'aimes pas,
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime.
Prend garde à toi !!
Mais si je t'aime si je taiiiime
Prend gaaaarde à toi !
Que de belles paroles ! :)
(Édit, j'ai corrigé les petites fautes, merci pour les like !)
@DeepCoverAka187
Andrew leung Love is a rebellious bird
that nobody can tame,
and you call him quite in vain
if it suits him not to come.Nothing helps, neither threat nor prayer.
One man talks well, the other's mum;
it's the other one that I prefer.
He's silent but I like his looks.Love! Love! Love! Love!Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, ever, known a law;
love me not, then I love you;
if I love you, you'd best beware! etc.The bird you thought you had caught
beat its wings and flew away ...
love stays away, you wait and wait;
when least expected, there it is!All around you, swift, so swift,
it comes, it goes, and then returns ...
you think you hold it fast, it flees
you think you're free, it holds you fast.Love! Love! Love! Love!Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, ever, known a law;
love me not, then I love you;
if I love you, you'd best beware!if you search for it
@ogudemichael
Everything that brought me here
Mickey, Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers
Hey Arnold
Courage The Cowardly Dog
Ren and Stimpy
Tiny Toon Adventures
Up
The Aristocats
Sesame Street
Muppet Babies
The Cuphead Show
@orsonwelles4254
I'm sure this video would've had more views if everyone knew what this song was called.
@DemiWitteveen
I only know the name because I play piano... it's quite sad actually :/
@ThePurpleMushroom
I also only know the name but because I had to go through a couple of opera singing compilations so it was all guessing in hopes of finding it.
@MrSomebody-zh3cc
Don't throw pearls to the pigs - be glad that you found it instead.
@florianfasquelle5212
The name is also l'amour est un oiseau rebelle
@Tom19142
The problem is the ignorance about Classical music
@poopooeater6894
Only 70’s kids will remember... 1870’s
@Strav9
Next year we will be closer to the 2070s than to te 1970s...
@stancanadmapleleaf
@@Strav9 exactly
@vagabaassassina3461
@@stancanadmapleleaf No we won't. 50 years from 1970 to 2020 and 50 years from 2020 to 2070