Carmen
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 enfant de Bohême,
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!
Choeur
Prends garde à toi!
Carmen
Si tu ne m’aimes pas,
si tu ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime!
Choeur
Prends garde à toi!
Carmen
Mais si je t’aime,
si je t’aime, prends garde à toi!

L’amour! l’amour! l’amour! l’amour!

                        Carmen
Love is like a rebellious bird
That no one quite knows how to tame.
Try to call it, you won’t be heard
If to refuse you is its aim.
Nothing works, neither threat nor plea,
One man talks well, the other’s mum.
And it’s this one I’d rather see —
I like him though he’s acting dumb.

Oh love, yes love! Oh love, yes love!

Well, love is like a Gypsy child
That’s never heard of any law or rule;
If you don’t love me and I’m wild
About you, well, I say: look out, you fool!
Chorus
Look out, you fool!
Carmen
If you don’t love me, you
Don’t love me and I’m wild about you!
Chorus
Look out, you fool!
Carmen
But if I love you,
If I love you, look out, you fool!

When you thought that the bird was caught
It beat its wings and flew away;
Love is far and you wait for naught,
But don’t wait and it’s here to stay.
All around you, it comes and goes
And then comes back — it’s uncontrolled.
Think you’ve dodged it? You’re in its throes!
It flees when you think you have a hold!

Oh love, yes love! Oh love, yes love!