O mio Babbino Caro
Katherine Jenkins; Anthony Ingliss: Philharmonia Orchestra 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, 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 heartbreaking aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi, composed in the early 20th century by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The aria is sung by Lauretta, the daughter of the titular character, Gianni Schicchi, who is desperately in love with Rinuccio, the son of another wealthy family. In the song, Lauretta pleads with her father to let her marry Rinuccio and buy the ring she needs for the engagement. The emotional and passionate melody, coupled with the touching lyrics, creates a heart-wrenching mood that evokes feelings of love, longing, and despair.

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 were in vain,

Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
I would go to the Ponte Vecchio

Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
And throw myself in the Arno!

Mi struggo e mi tormento!
I am aching, I am tortured!

O Dio, vorrei morir!
Oh God, I'd like to die!

Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Father, have pity, have pity!