O mio babbino caro
Jenkins Katherine 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 buttarmi in Arno!

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

English Translatoin
O my dear papa
I like him, he is handsome, handsome
I want to go to Porta Rossa
To buy the ring!
Yes, yes, I want to go there!
And if my love were in vain,
I would go to the Ponte Vecchio
And throw myself in the Arno!
I am aching, I am tortured!
Oh God, I'd like to die!

Father, have pity, have pity!
Father, have pity, have pity!

Overall Meaning

The song "O Mio Babbino Caro" is a heart-wrenching aria from the opera "Gianni Schicchi" composed by Giacomo Puccini. The singer, Lauretta, pleads with her father to allow her to marry her beloved Rinuccio. She promises her father that she will be a dutiful daughter but makes it clear that she cannot live without Rinuccio. The song is a complex display of emotions, with Lauretta expressing both her love for Rinuccio and her despair at the possibility of being separated from him. She begs her father for mercy, telling him that she would rather die than be without the man she loves.

The song's lyrics are simple yet powerful and provide a vivid portrayal of Lauretta's distress. The use of repetition, particularly in the "Babbo, pietà, pietà!" refrain, emphasizes the intensity of Lauretta's emotions. The vocal performance required for the song is also extremely challenging, requiring a soprano with exceptional range and control to convey the emotional turmoil that Lauretta is experiencing.

Line by Line Meaning

O my dear papa
Oh my beloved father

I like him, he is handsome, handsome
I am attracted to someone who is very good looking

I want to go to Porta Rossa
I desire to go to Porta Rossa

To buy the ring!
To purchase the ring!

Yes, yes, I want to go there!
Absolutely, I am determined to go there!

And if my love were in vain,
If my feelings are not returned,

I would go to the Ponte Vecchio
I would head to Ponte Vecchio

And throw myself in the Arno!
And throw myself into the Arno river!

I am aching, I am tortured!
My heart is pining, I am in distress!

Oh God, I'd like to die!
I wish I could just die!

Father, have pity, have pity!
Father, show me mercy, please have mercy!