Lyrics of Act 2: Vissi d'arte (Tosca) - Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Act 2: Vissi d'arte (Tosca) (original)

Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore,
non feci mai male ad anima viva!
Con man furtiva
quante miserie conobbi aiutai.
Sempre con fè sincera
la mia preghiera
ai santi tabernacoli salì.
Sempre con fè sincera
diedi fiori agl’altar.
Nell’ora del dolore
perchè, perchè, Signore,
perchè me ne rimuneri così?
Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto,
e diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel,
che ne ridean più belli.
Nell’ora del dolor
perchè, perchè, Signor,
ah, perchè me ne rimuneri così?

(translation)

I lived of art, I lived of love,
I never hurt a living soul!
With stealthy man
how many miseries I knew I helped.
Always with sincere faith
my prayer
he went up to the holy tabernacles.
Always with sincere faith
I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of pain
Why, why, Lord,
why do you pay me back like that?
I gave the Madonna's jewels to the mantle,
and I gave song to the stars, to heaven,
who laugh more beautifully.
In the hour of pain
why, why, mister,
ah, why do you pay me so?