- Bizet, "Habanera" (from the Opera, 'Carmen')Love is a rebellious bird
that nobody can tame,
and you call him quite in vain
if it suits him not to come.
Nothing helps, neither threat nor prayer.
One man talks well, the other's mum;
it's the other one that I prefer.
He's silent but I like his looks.
Love! Love! Love! Love!
Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, ever, known a law;
love me not, then I love you;
if I love you, you'd best beware! etc.
The bird you thought you had caught
beat its wings and flew away ...
love stays away, you wait and wait;
when least expected, there it is!
All around you, swift, so swift,
it comes, it goes, and then returns ...
you think you hold it fast, it flees
you think you're free, it holds you fast.
Love! Love! Love! Love!
Love is a gypsy's child,
it has never, ever, known a law;
love me not, then I love you;
if I love you, you'd best beware!
.
And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again?
Archilochus
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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4 comments:
Gypsy love is a roving rapture
A wanton bird that nine can tame
Not a bird for a fool to capture
He plays a most elusive game
Some may woo him with threats and curses
And some prefer a soother plan
Some may woo him with rhymes and verses
Give me a strong and silent man.
L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!
O Love is like a Gypsy boy
He never would and never will play fair
So if you turn from me I'll love you,
And if I love you, then BEWARE!
~ As translated for A Treasury of Grand Opera (1945)
:P
That's a riot.
Only in America ... however.
Yes, Europeans have a decidedly more sophisticated sense of humour. ;)
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