Main Title
M-G-M Studio Orchestra & Chorus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a beautiful night
And we call it bella notte
Look at the skies
They have stars in their eyes
On this lovely bella notte
So take the love of your loved one
To keep from falling like a star
When you make that dizzy bee climb
For this is the night and the heavens are bright
On this lovely bella notte
On this lovely bella notte
The lyrics of M-G-M Studio Orchestra and Chorus's song Main Title evoke a romantic and dreamy feeling associated with a beautiful night. The opening line initiates the mood for the song, stating, "This is the night, it's a beautiful night." It follows up with the phrase "bella notte," meaning "beautiful night" in Italian, thus adding a touch of exoticism to the lyrics. The second line continues the romanticism by inviting the listener to "Look at the skies; they have stars in their eyes" signifying how the stars are shining especially brightly tonight.
The next two lines are invitations for lovers to be together on this special night. "So take the love of your loved one; you'll need it about this time" shows the importance of being with the special someone you love at this moment. The following line, "To keep from falling like a star when you make that dizzy bee climb," is a metaphorical way of expressing how, when being with your loved one, one might feel like they are on a dizzying ascent. Finally, the chorus repeats the phrase "On this lovely bella notte, on this lovely bella notte" like an enchanting mantra to capture the magic of the moment.
Interesting facts about this song include:
1) The song was featured in Disney's 1955 animated film Lady and the Tramp.
2) The melody and lyrics were inspired by the Italian song "O Sole Mio" and were translated into English by Peggy Lee, who also sang in the film.
3) The opening lines, "This is the night, it's a beautiful night," were a reference to composer George Gershwin's "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess.
4) Walt Disney initially resisted featuring the scene in the film because he thought it would not appeal to children.
5) The song is listed as BMI Work #670299.
6) It has been covered by various artists, including Perry Como and Dean Martin.
7) The song has been parodied in many popular culture references, including The Simpsons and The Muppets.
8) In 2019, a live-action adaptation of Lady and the Tramp was released, with a new version of the song featuring Janelle Monáe.
9) The song's romantic charm has made it a popular choice for weddings and other romantic occasions.
10) The song's popularity inspired a restaurant in Walt Disney World called Tony's Town Square Restaurant to create a "Bella Notte" romantic dining theme.
Chords are not applicable as "Main Title" is an orchestral piece without any vocal accompaniment.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the night
It's currently nighttime and this particular night is significant
It's a beautiful night
The night is visually stunning and pleasing to the senses
And we call it bella notte
The Italian phrase 'bella notte' is used to describe this beautiful night
Look at the skies
Draw attention to the skies above
They have stars in their eyes
The stars in the sky appear to be twinkling
On this lovely bella notte
Reinforcing the beauty of this particular night
So take the love of your loved one
Bring along the person you love
You'll need it about this time
Having your loved one with you will provide emotional support
To keep from falling like a star
To prevent an emotional meltdown as if falling from the sky
When you make that dizzy bee climb
Trying to achieve something difficult, like climbing up to a high position, can make one feel disoriented (like a dizzy bee)
For this is the night and the heavens are bright
Reiterating that this is an important and beautiful night
On this lovely bella notte
Again, highlighting the beauty of the night
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: OLIVER WALLACE, PEGGY LEE, SONNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind