Also known as L'amour est un oiseau rebelle' ('Love is a rebellious bird'), 'Habanera' is a famous aria from Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, performed by the title role in scene 5 of the first act. Let's look at the lyrics to this spirited and hugely popular aria, 'Habanera'.
By the way, we named Carmen one of the best operas for beginners, and Bizet one of the greatest French composers of all time.
And you can hear Carmen at the 2024 BBC Proms! It's being performed for Prom 52 (Thur 29 August), by soloists including Rihab Chaieb (Carmen), Evan LeRoy Johnson (Don José), Łukasz Goliński (Escamillo). They are joined by the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Anja Bihlmaier.
'Habanera' lyrics in English
Here are the lyrics to 'Habanera' in English.
[recitative]
When will I love you?
Good Lord, I don't know,
Maybe never, maybe tomorrow...
But not today, that's for sure!
[song]
Love is a rebellious bird
That none can tame,
And it is quite in vain that one calls it,
If it suits it to refuse;
Nothing to be done, threat or plea.
The one talks well, the other is silent;
And it's the other that I prefer,
He said nothing, but he pleases me.
(Love is a rebellious bird) Love!
(That none can tame,) Love!
(And it is well in vain that one calls it,) Love!
(If it suits it to refuse.) Love!
Love is a gypsy child, It has never, never known a law,
If you don't love me, I love you,
If I love you, be on your guard! (Be on your guard!)
If you don't love me, If you don't love me, then I love you! (Be on your guard!)
But if I love you, if I love you, Be on your guard!
(Love is a gypsy child,)
(It has never, never known a law,)
(If you don't love me, I love you,)
(If I love you, be on your guard!) (Be on your guard!)
If you don't love me, If you don't love me, I love you! (Be on your guard!)
But if I love you, if I love you, Be on your guard! (Your guard!)
The bird you hoped to catch
Beat its wings and flew away,
Love is far, you can wait for it;
You no longer await it, there it is!
All around you, swift, swift,
It comes, goes, then it returns;
You think to hold it fast, it dodges you;
You think to dodge it, it holds you!
(All around you, swift, swift,) Love!
(It comes, goes, then it returns;) Love!
(You think to hold it fast, it dodges you;) Love!
(You think to dodge it, it holds you!) Love!
Love is a gypsy child,
It has never, never known a law,
If you don't love me, I love you; If I love you, be on your guard! (Be on your guard!)
If you don't love me, If you don't love me, then I love you! (Be on your guard!)
But if I love you, if I love you, Be on your guard!
(Love is a gypsy child,)
(It has never, never known the law,)
(If you don't love me, then I love you,)
(If I love you, be on your guard!) (Be on your guard!)
If you don't love me, If you don't love me, then I love you! (Be on your guard!)
But if I love you, if I love you, Be on your guard! (Your guard!)
Lyrics in the original French
Here are the lyrics to 'Habanera' in the opera's original French.
[recitative] Quand je vous aimerai ? Ma foi, je ne sais pas, Peut-être jamais, peut-être demain... Mais pas aujourd'hui, c'est certain !
[song] L'amour est un oiseau rebelle 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 est un oiseau rebelle) L'amour ! (Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,) L'amour ! (Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,) L'amour ! (S'il lui convient de refuser.) L'amour !
L'amour est enfant de bohème, Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime, Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi ! (Prends garde à toi !) Si tu ne m'aimes pas, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime ! (Prends garde à toi !) Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, Prends garde à toi!
(L'amour est enfant de bohème,) (Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,) (Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime;) (Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi !) (Prends garde à toi !)
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime ! (Prends garde à toi !) Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, Prends garde à toi ! (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'attends 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 !
(Tout autour de toi, vite, vite,) L'amour ! (Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient;) L'amour ! (Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite;) L'amour ! (Tu crois l'éviter, il te tient !) L'amour !
L'amour est enfant de bohème, Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime, Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi ! (Prends garde à toi !) Si tu ne m'aimes pas, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime ! (Prends garde à toi !) Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, Prends garde à toi !
(L'amour est enfant de bohème,) (Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,) (Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime,) (Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi !) (Prends garde à toi !)
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime ! (Prends garde à toi !) Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, Prends garde à toi ! (à toi !)
More famous opera song lyrics
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