Habanera [Love the Vagrant] lyrics

Love is wayward like any bird

That flirts and flutters on the spray,

Lure him as you may with kind word,

He spreads his wings and flies away!

Lovers twain for my heart implore,

One vows he is my beauty's thrall

But the other I love the more

Who never told his love at all!

Ah! Love!... Ah! Love!...

Ah! Love!... Ah! Love!...

Yes, love's a vagrant at the best

A lawless vagabond I fear is he

And if thou lov'st me not, I love thee,

But if I love, beware of me!

And if thou lov'st me not,

And if thou lov'st me not, I love thee!

But if I love thee,

If I love thee, ah then beware!

As a bird you think captured sure

Gives one wing stroke, you clutch but air,

So love mocketh at ev'ry lure,

Yet when you think him gone is there!

Darting quicker than mortal thought

Love's here, and there, and then is gone!

Though you follow he'll ne'er be caught

And yet you follow on and on!

Ah! Love!... Ah! Love!...

Ah! Love!... Ah! Love!...

Yes, love's a vagrant at the best

A lawless vagabond I fear is he

And if thou lov'st me not, I love thee,

But if I love, beware of me!

And if thou lov'st me not,

And if thou lov'st me not, I love thee!

But if I love thee,

If I love thee, ah then beware!

• Artist:Kiri Te Kanawa
• Album:Kiri Sings from Broadway, the Opera and the Concert Stage (1973)