Carmen:
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
Love is a rebellious bird
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
That nobody can tame,
Et c'est bein en vain qu'on l'appelle,
And it's useless to call him
S'il lui convient de refuser!
If he doesn't feel like answering you!
Rien n'y fait, menace ou priere,
Nothing is any use, threats or prayers,
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;
One speaks sweet words, the other is silent;
Et c'est l'autre que je prefere,
And it's the other who I prefer,
Il n'a rien dit, mais il me plait.
He says nothing, but he pleases me.
L'amour, l'amour...
Love, love...
L'amour est enfant de boheme,
Love is a child of the gypsies,
Il n'a jamais connu de loi;
He's never known any law,
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime,
If you don't love me, I love you,
Si je t'aime, prends garde a toi!
And if I love you, beware!
L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
The bird who you hoped to surprise
Battit de l'aile et s'envola;
Beat his wings and flew away;
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre,
If he's far away you pursue him in vain,
Tu ne l'attends plus, il est la.
If you no longer pursue him, he's there at once.
Tout atour de toi vite, vite,
All around you, swiftly
Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient,
He comes and goes, then returns,
Tu crois le tenir, il t'evite,
If you think you have him in your grasp, he escapes you,
Tu crois l'eviter, il te tient!
If you think you can escape him, he has you in his grasp!
L'amour, l'amour...
Love, love...
L'amour est enfant de boheme,
Love is a child of the gypsies,
Il n'a jamais connu de loi;
He's never known any law,
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime,
If you don't love me, I love you,
Si je t'aime, prends garde a toi!
And if I love you, beware!