Tosca
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics


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E lucevan le stelle,
ed olezzava la terra
stridea l'uscio dell'orto
e un passo sfiorava la rena.
Entrava ella fragrante,
mi cadea fra la braccia.

O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!




e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
tanto la vita!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Luciano Pavarotti's "E lucevan le stelle" speak of a bittersweet moment of intense emotion and longing. The opening lines describe the beauty of the stars and the earth around the singer, evoking a sense of wonder and awe. However, the mood shifts quickly as the singer becomes aware of the approaching presence of a beloved, represented by the sound of footsteps on the sand. The scent of her entrance is noted, and she falls into his arms. At this point, the lyrics take on an even more passionate and intimate tone, with the singer reveling in the sensation of sweet kisses and tender caresses.


However, this moment is fleeting, and it is soon clear that the dream of love has vanished forever. The singer is left feeling desperate and lost, lamenting the passage of time and the fact that he never truly loved life until this moment, but now it is too late. The final lines of the song are repeated twice, emphasizing the sense of finality and despair that permeates the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

E lucevan le stelle,
And the stars were shining,


ed olezzava la terra
And the earth was sweet-smelling


stridea l'uscio dell'orto
The gate of the garden creaked


e un passo sfiorava la rena.
And a footstep brushed the sand.


Entrava ella fragrante,
She came in, fragrant,


mi cadea fra le braccia.
She fell into my arms.


O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
Oh, sweet kisses, languorous caresses,


mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
As I, trembling, uncovered her lovely form from its veils!


Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
My dream of love vanished forever.


L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
The hour has fled, and I die in despair!


e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
And I die in despair! And I have never loved life more!




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@vercingetorixkingofgalia7196

Recondita armonia
Di bellezze diverse!
É bruna Floria,
L'ardente amante mia.
E te, beltade ignota,
Cinta di chiome e bionde,
Tu azzurro hai l'occhio,
Tosca ha l'occhio nero!
L'arte nel suo mistero,
Le diverse bellezze insiem confonde...
Ma nel ritrar costei,
Il mio solo pensiero!
Ah, il mio sol pensier sei tu,
Tosca,
Sei tu!



@alexandrelegarrec2381

Recondita armonia
Di bellezze diverse
E' bruna Floria
L'ardente amante mia
E te, bel tale ignota
Cinta di chiome bionde
Tu azzurro hai l'occhio
Tosca ha l'occhio nero
L'arte nel suo mistero
Le diverse bellezze insiem confonde
Ma nel ritrar costei
Il mio solo pensiero
Il mio solo pensier sei tu
Tosca, sei tu



@MannyBrum

English translation:

Hidden harmony
Of different beauties
Brown-haired is Floria
My ardent lover
And you, unknown beauty
Surrounded by blonde hair
You have blue eyes
Tosca has black eyes
Art in its mystery
Confuses the different beauties together
But in portraying her
My only thought
My only thought is you
Tosca, it is you!

Context:
The painter Cavaradossi is painting a portrait of Mary Magdalene for a church, and he has based it on an woman he has seen in the church whose name he doesn't yet know, but as he is painting it, he keeps thinking of the woman he loves, Floria Tosca, and in doing so the painting ends up being a combination of the two women.



All comments from YouTube:

@garyturner1410

I am 49 years old. I first heard this concert 30 years ago and I still watch this now. When I die, Pavarotti's voice will be one of the things I will thank God I was lucky enough to hear. A man like Beethoven, sent from the universe to make people happy.
Thank you Maestro - I pray humanity will still appreciate this in future generations.... I'm sure they will. ❤

@oulascarpa9548

Grazie bellissima Italia, hai dato così tanti al mondo!!!

@rudij7060

I was born in 1957 – I love the Elvis time – the hippy time – the disco time - and all music- but regardless of music genre - it is my humble opinion that he is the greatest singer in human history.

@diegomr6969

a medida que creces, te vas dando cuenta lo que los viejos escuchaban y era por algo, por la cultura, por mantener la cuna de la musica, solo si podes entender la melodia, el amor hacia las personas . la tierra plantas animales vas amar mas esta cuna musical. te hace alguien con raiz.

@larsfriisc

The finest Stradivarius male HUMAN instrument. The voice the power. You can always recognize two voices - Paravrotti and Callas. Both give me the chills. And Tosca contains so many great arias. WOW.

@mai861

Hos voice is unique, different and very satisfying to hear. He is a lyric tenor, but you can recognize him immediately because it's completely differently with anothers. But he was not very good at the young age. Below 30 I mean. Try Roberto Alagna at the age of 27, very young and perfect. Pavarotti is the best at about 45, but was not very good when he was young. We can't have the best singer because everyone is different. But I hear Pavarotti the most, he is the best of mine.

@doddsalfa

Trust me you are absolutely right

@garyroberts3859

Well he’s in a group that are the greatest including women and not all are classical singers

31 More Replies...

@timothydikgang3717

I was born in 1987, South Africa. I often leave my home and go sit for an hour next to the river and listen to this song and be one with nature and my soul is at peace. 🙏 Thank you Luciano! Bravo!

@richardmagnus5672

A truly masterpiece from the greatest tenor ever in a marvelous site that will never again hold an event such as this. Thank you Maestro Pavarotti!

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