Habanera
Opera Divas Lyrics
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Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,
S'il lui convient de refuser.
Rien n'y fait, menace ou prière,
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère
Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plaît.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
Mais, si je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
Battit de l'aile et s'envola;
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre;
Tu ne l'attend plus, il est là!
Tout autour de toi vite, vite,
Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient!
Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite;
Tu crois l'éviter, il te tient!
L'amour, l'amour, l'amour, l'amour!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
Mais, si je t'aime,
Si je t'aime, prend garde à toi!
The lyrics to Opera Divas's song Habanera speak about love as an uncontrollable, unpredictable force that cannot be tamed or forced. L'amour (love) is compared to a rebellious bird that cannot be domesticated or made to behave as one wants it to. It responds only to its own desires, and it can choose to refuse even the most pleading cries for attention. The singer of the lyrics expresses a preference for the silent bird - the one that doesn't speak its intentions but is pleasing nonetheless. The refrain of the song repeats the word "l'amour" with a certain longing and yearning tone, as if to emphasize the intense emotions that love can evoke.
The second verse emphasizes the Bohemian nature of love - it is a child of Bohemia that lives outside of the constraints of law or societal expectations. The singer warns their lover that they will love them even if they don't reciprocate, but if they do love them in return, they should beware. The final verse speaks about the elusiveness of love - just as one tries to grasp it, it slips away or appears out of nowhere. Despite our attempts to control or avoid it, love has a way of ensnaring us and taking hold of us. The song seems to be a celebration of the wild, untamed nature of love, and the power it holds over our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
Love is like a wild bird
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
That no one can tame
Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,
It's in vain to try to call it
S'il lui convient de refuser.
If it wants to refuse
Rien n'y fait, menace ou prière,
Threats or prayers won't change its mind
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;
One may speak eloquently, the other stays silent
Et c'est l'autre que je préfère
But I prefer the silent one
Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plaît.
He hasn't said anything, but I like him
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
Love, love, love, love!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême,
Love is the child of Bohemianism
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
It has never known any law
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,
If you don't love me, I love you
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
If I love you, beware!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime,
But if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
Beware!
L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
The bird you thought you could catch
Battit de l'aile et s'envola;
Flapped its wings and flew away
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre;
Love is far away, you can wait for it
Tu ne l'attends plus, il est là!
But when you stop waiting, it suddenly appears!
Tout autour de toi vite, vite,
It moves quickly all around you
Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient!
It comes, goes away, and then comes back!
Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite;
You think you have it, but it avoids you
Tu crois l'éviter, il te tient!
You think you can avoid it, but it holds you tight!
L'amour, l'amour, l'amour, l'amour!
Love, love, love, love!
L'amour est enfant de Bohême,
Love is the child of Bohemianism
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
It has never known any law
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime,
If you don't love me, I love you
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
If I love you, beware!
Si tu ne m'aime pas,
If you don't love me,
Si tu ne m'aime pas, je t'aime!
I love you!
Mais, si je t'aime,
But if I love you,
Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!
Beware!
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@toy2day1
An Italian genre of music, French composer and language, story about Spain, sung by a Greek, conducted by an Austrian for a German audience! European culture at its best!
@oberstvonkeks
@@juanme555 What?
@juanme555
@@oberstvonkeks
"Oberst von Keks"
Blocked*
@kirancox6123
@@juanme555 you do realize that Germany and Austria are both part of Europe?
@juanme555
@@itsOculus
Begone of my feed, Barbarii.
@cjchu4686
@@itsOculus uh, he actually sounds like the opposite
@oddsandends3951
She should have won an Oscar just by standing there gracefully and examining the audience with her enchanted hair.
@elisabettucci7134
Lo mismo que pienso cada vez que la veo
@abbyhunt5128
Agreed!!!! That's the magic of Callas!!! No comparison....
@pantgag2861
Yesss!!!