O mio Babbino Caro
Giacomo Puccini Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 buttarmi in Arno!

Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!




Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà,

Overall Meaning

The song O mio babbino caro (Oh my dear papa) is a soprano aria from Giacomo Puccini's opera, Gianni Schicchi. The opera is set in Florence, Italy, and tells the story of the wealthy Buoso Donati, whose death sparks a family feud over his inheritance. The aria is sung by Lauretta, daughter of the titular character Gianni Schicchi, who is in love with Rinuccio, the son of a rival family. In the aria, Lauretta begs her father to allow her to marry Rinuccio by offering to throw herself into the river if he refuses.


The lyrics are straightforward and simple, but the aria is emotionally charged and powerful due to the soaring melody and the poignant orchestration. The opening lines, "O mio babbino caro, mi piace, è bello, bello," convey Lauretta's love for her father and her desire to convince him to let her marry. The subsequent lines, "Vo'andare in Porta Rossa a comperar l'anello!" express her eagerness to purchase a ring as a symbol of her commitment.


The second stanza is more despairing, as Lauretta pleads with her father to be merciful. When she says, "andrei sul Ponte Vecchio, ma per buttarmi in Arno!" she is not only expressing desperation but also invoking the iconic location where people go to commit suicide. The aria ends with the repeated plea "Babbo, pietà" ("Father, have mercy"), which showcases the depth of Lauretta's emotions and the urgency of her plea.


Line by Line Meaning

O mio babbino caro,
Oh my dear father,


mi piace, è bello, bello.
I like him, he is handsome, handsome.


Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
I want to go to Porta Rossa


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 buttarmi in Arno!
But to throw myself in the Arno!


Mi struggo e mi tormento!
I am consumed with longing and torment!


O Dio, vorrei morir!
Oh God, I wish to die!


Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Father, have pity on me, have mercy!


Babbo, pietà
Father, have mercy




Contributed by Colin D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@claudiuvartolomei3900

Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini a fost un compozitor italian de muzică de operă, reprezentant al curentului artistic realist numit în Italia verismo. Wikipedia
Născut: 22 decembrie 1858, Lucca, Italia
Decedat: 29 noiembrie 1924, Regiunea Capitalei Bruxelles, Belgia
Soție: Elvira Gemignani (căs. 1904–1924)
Copii: Antonio Puccini
Compoziții
La bohème
Tosca
Turandot



All comments from YouTube:

@UnBarney

GTA III. One of the most important games of the PS2 and to the entire gaming industry. Glad to have been brought here.

@thiagodirosato2527

L'Italia bella.... Tu hai datto a noi milliardi di cose bellissime... Sei L'unica!

@laurahernandez9428

Otros lugares también no solo Italia

@CelestiniumOG

"Experience has taught me that a man like you can be very loyal for the right price" - DL

@HatlabuFarkas

playing the GTA III on LINUX brings me here in 2023 .

@qianfan9854

So far the best version of O Mio Babbino Caro I heard on YouTube.

@Sarpa.

What about this https://youtu.be/bkH4S3sS8DQ

@hansdekorver7365

Angela Gheorghiu ( 1997 )

@Regular_guy

Agree.

@francescom49numfunk82

Try the Marcus Miller cover with métropol orkest

More Comments

More Versions