O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi
Kiri Te Kanawa Sir John Pritchard & The London Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi piace è bello, bello
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
A comparar l'anello
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
E se l'amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Mi struggo e mi tormento
O Dio, vorrei morir
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Babbo, pietà, pietà
The song "O Mio Babbino Caro" is from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. The lyrics are sung by the character Lauretta, who is pleading with her father to let her marry the man she loves. The song opens with "O mio babbino caro" which means "Oh my dear father." Lauretta tells her father that she loves the man and wants to buy a ring from the Porta Rossa market. She begs her father to let her go there.
In the second verse, Lauretta conveys the depth of her love for the man, saying that she would go to Ponte Vecchio, a bridge in Florence, if her love was unrequited. She says that if this were the case, she would throw herself into the Arno River. She then pleads with her father to have mercy on her and not let her suffer. The repetition of "Babbo, pietà, pietà" (Father, have mercy, have mercy) at the end of the song underscores Lauretta's desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
O mio babbino caro
Oh my dear father
Mi piace è bello, bello
I like him, he's attractive
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
I want to go to Porta Rossa
A comparar l'anello
To compare 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 by despair and torment
O Dio, vorrei morir
Oh God, I wish to die
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have pity, have pity
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have pity, have pity
Contributed by Tyler E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Popa
This rendition of the aria is, in my opinion, the best. Because it's sung the best. Having emotion in your performance is undoubtedly important, but this rendition by Kiri is simply...incredible. Vocal purity, beautiful tone throughout, and the control....she is unbelievable.
Steven Douglas Carr
Absolutely...
Beatrice NHS
Tears as I listened to it
Mimi
I share your opinion. I listen to every version of this aria I can, but none of them come close to this one! Incredible in every way.
Pat Sullivan
Agreed!
atbp
Try listening to Victoria delos Angeles. Lauri-Volpi didn't put her on "Isolated voices" in his book for nothing.
PersephoneSzeliga
I discovered this masterpiece in 1990 in A Room With A View. At age 18.
I’m 50 now and love it more
Shazana
Wonderful film getting some publicity now because of the death of Julian Sands. I first saw it in 1989 aged 16!
Tyler Sodeyama
I played it for my wedding.
Today’s
The orchestra is also ahmmmmaaazzziiing in this rendition ❤