“La Casa de Papel/Money Heist” is Netflix’s action-packed series. Besides the theme song “My Life is Going On” by Cecilia Krull, the Italian folk song “Bella Ciao” was heard frequently in the series. In a scene with the Professor and his older brother Berlin, viewers are first introduced to the song. During one of Tokio’s (Úrsula Corberó) narrations, she helps the viewers with the Bella Ciao meaning. Not just that, she also explains how the thieves were first introduced to it.
Tokyo says on the show that the professor’s life revolves around “Resistance”. His grandfather taught him the song who had fought against the fascists in Italy. Later, the professor taught that song to them.
During World War II, the song became a revolutionary anthem, it was originally sung by the Italian partisans fighting fascism. The song has been considered a symbol of freedom since the Italian partisans bid goodbye to their loved ones by singing it as they went to battle.
The true fans will notice the song is played during big plot points only. For instance, when Moscow manages to forge a tunnel leading out of the Mint in season 1, the crew sings “Bella Ciao”.
How did the song Bella Ciao originate?
The song originated in the late 19th and early 20th century among the women who worked in Italy’s rice paddy fields. Mondina (a field worker) version of “Bella Ciao” is a lament about the terrible conditions, back-breaking labor, and low pay that the workers suffered through. The original lyrics express sorrow over a boss wielding a cane, biting insects, and the loss of youth.
“Bella Ciao” became an Italian folk song after the mondina laborers protested against harsh working conditions, it turned into a protest song against various regimes, systems, and power. The song was popularized in the late 19th century. Since then, the song “Bella Ciao” has also been recorded and translated by several artists around the world, in different languages. The songwriter of the song is unknown, “Bella Ciao” was originally “Alla mattina appena alzata”.
Here is to know everything about Money Heist’s unofficial theme song.
Bella Ciao Meaning In Money Heist
According to “Arts and Terror” by Vladimir L. Marchenkov, “Bella Ciao” means “Goodbye Beautiful”. Since this Italian folk song was used as an anthem for the anti-fascist resistance, it is sung worldwide as a hymn of freedom. On the other hand, Jerry Silverman reports in his book “Songs That Made History Around the World” that it was first sung by women working in the fields of Northern.
However, the lyrics changed to reflect “the partisans fighting the fascists” during World War II. Later, that is used on “La Casa de Papel/Money Heist” with lyrics infused with bravery and defiance. So, this is the Bella Ciao meaning in Money Heist that the professor teaches to everybody in the show.
Bella Ciao Song Lyrics Meaning
We all love the show “Money Heist” as well as its song “Bella Ciao.” But, have you ever wondered what is the meaning of this amazing Spanish song that won our hearts. Continue reading to know the meaning:
Una mattina mi son alzato
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Una mattina mi son alzato
E ho trovato l’invasorMeaning:
One morning I awakened
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
One morning I awakened
And I found the invaderO partigiano, portami via
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
O partigiano, portami via
Ché mi sento di morirMeaning:
Oh partisan carry me away
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Oh partisan carry me away
Because I feel death approachingE se io muoio da partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E se io muoio da partigiano
Tu mi devi seppellirMeaning:
And if I die as a partisan
(And if I die on the mountain)
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
And if I die as a partisan
(And if I die on the mountain)
Then you must bury meE seppellire lassù in montagna
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E seppellire lassù in montagna
Sotto l’ombra di un bel fiorMeaning:
Bury me up in the mountain
(And you have to bury me)
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Bury me up in the mountain
(And you have to bury me)
Under the shade of a beautiful flowerE le genti che passeranno
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
E le genti che passeranno
Mi diranno «che bel fior.»Meaning:
And the people who shall pass
(And all those who shall pass)
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
And the people who shall pass
(And all those who shall pass)
Will tell me: “what a beautiful flower”
(And they will say: “what a beautiful flower”)Questo è il fiore del partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
Questo è il fiore del partigiano
Morto per la libertàMeaning:
This is the flower of the partisan
(And this is the flower of the partisan)
Oh, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful!
Bye! Bye!
This is the flower of the partisan(And this is the flower of the partisan)
Who died for freedom
Song Of Solidarity During Pandemic
“Bella Ciao” became a song of solidarity for the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Italian people were at the epicenter of the pandemic, many people have sung it in their support. A neighborhood began singing the song in unison in one area in Germany as their neighbors played live instruments:
Besides that, several Italians shared clips on Instagram singing along to the song from their balconies:
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Bella Ciao Political Symbols In Money Heist
“La Casa de Papel/Money Heist” is packed with hidden messages throughout the series. Not just the show, even its songs send a strong message as well. One of the symbols is the red coveralls the thieves wear. According to Google Arts & Culture Center, it symbolizes new liberties, and freedoms during several revolutions around the world.
The Salvador Dalí mask is another prop with deeper meaning. During Zurich’s Dada movement, the famed Spanish artist created much of his work which was about rejecting the modern capitalist society, according to the Tate. That is why there is Bella Ciao’s meaning in English as well.
For instance, the season 3 tagline was “join the resistance”, and also the last words spoken were “Then, it was war.” So, this is the Bella Ciao meaning in English in Money Heist. And if we talk about Bella Ciao’s meaning in Hindi, it has the same meaning as English.
The Reason Behind Money Heist Gang Sing “Bella Ciao”
In Money Heist’s season 1 finale, during a flashback where Berlin tells the Professor to escape and save himself, the significance behind “Bella Ciao” is revealed. The Professor deflects by telling him that nothing will go wrong when Berlin asks him to make a promise. The professor said, “We’re the resistance, right?” Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó) explains in voiceover as he begins to sing “Bella Ciao” that the Professor’s grandfather fought with the partisans during World War II. His grandfather him this song and he taught it to the gang.
The Professor embraces the ideals of resistance and freedom in “Bella Ciao”. Also, he blinds himself to the fact that it’s a song about death. In Money Heist, the goal of the Professor and the gang was not just to get rich. He wanted himself and the gang to print their own money rather than stealing anyone else’s. He justifies their action thusly while speaking to the police by saying, “In 2011, the European Central Bank made €171bn out of nowhere. Just like we’re doing. Only bigger.”
He further continued, “Do you know where all that money went? To the banks. Directly from the factory to the pockets of the rich. Did anyone call the European Central Bank a thief? No.” Then the professor explained, “‘Liquidity injections,’ they called it. I’m making a liquidity injection, but not for the banks. I’m making it here, in the real economy.”
In Money Heist, it’s a cry of resistance against a capitalist system. While a generation of people was struggling, the system bailed out the banks following the financial crisis of 2007-2008. It’s little wonder that “Bella Ciao” renewed its popularity as an anthem of resistance in between Money Heist seasons 2 and 3. Money Heist rejuvenated a powerful song that was the mirror of the real world and the issues people are still facing. That is why Bello Ciao meaning in English is against oppression, mistreatment, and the desire for freedom.
