from Act II of the French opera
Carmen by Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac
Role: Don José, a corporal of the dragoons (soldiers)
Voice Part: tenor Fach: spinto
Setting: The inn of Lillias Pastia
Synopsis: Carmen and José have just reunited after José's stay in prison for releasing Carmen when he was supposed to be guarding her. She has danced and played castanets for him but in the distance, he hears the call back to the barracks and he says he must go. She becomes angry at him for leaving her. Don Jose then responds by singing how the flower she threw to him kept him going throughout his stay at the prison.