Meaning Of ‘Bella Ciao’ Song From Money Heist Explained

It wouldn’t be surprising to assume that almost everybody knows about Money Heist. It is one of the most streamed Spanish crime series on Netflix. In the show, we have all noticed that before the heist or after completing it successfully the central gang of robbers used to sing an Italian song “Bella Ciao“. If you are a fan of the show then you must have wondered about what Bella Ciao means or about the origin of the song. Although the song, Bella Ciao, holds up the show’s theme of resistance, the lyrics also serve as a looming omen of death.

The roots of the song Bella Ciao and how it was incorporated in Money Heist

The origin of Bella Ciao, the song used in Money Heist, dates back to the late 19th and early 20th century. It started as a rebellion among the women laborers who worked in the rice paddy fields in Italy. The field workers, Mondinas, used this song as a lament about the adverse working conditions they were subjected to and the low pay. The lyrics of the song talk about biting insects, cane-wielding bosses at the slightest inconvenience, and loss of youth.

Later on, this protest song started by the mondina workers was cemented as an Italian folk song. It started to act as a medium of protest for the poor and exploited against power and systems. Although the roots of the song date back to as early as 1906, it grabbed the attention of the masses in the late 19th century. Especially after it was used as an anti-fascist theme during World War II, it started becoming popular.

You might think that the connection between the original song and Money Heist is bleak. But the spirit of resistance in the song and the hope of working in freedom is what pulled through into the new version. Netflix simply brought back the widely-known hymn in a newer version making it as catchy as possible in their crime series, Money Heist.

Why does the gang of robbers sing Bella Ciao in the show

You must have noticed that every time the gang is done with a successful heist, they sing Bella Ciao in the show. The significance of this gets revealed in a meticulously thought Season 1 finale. The scene unfolds a flashback where the Professor is seen talking to Berlin. Berlin asks him to escape and save himself if the heist fails and the gang doesn’t make it out of the Royal Mint.

When the Professor is asked to make a promise to Berlin, he deflects it by saying,

“We’re the resistance, right?”

Soon after, he starts singing Bella Ciao, we get to hear Tokyo explaining in a voiceover that Professor’s grandfather fought in World War II along with the partisans. He learned it from his grandfather and taught the gang in turn when he orchestrated the heists.

Bella Ciao song from Money Heist meaning

Una mattina mi sono alzato
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Una mattina mi sono alzato
E ho trovato l’invasor

One morning I awakened
Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
One morning I awakened
And I found the invader

O partigiano, portami via
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
O partigiano, portami via
Ché mi sento di morir

Oh partisan carry me away
Oh Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful, Goodbye beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Oh partisan carry me away
Because I feel death approaching

E se io muoio da partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E se io muoio da partigiano
Tu mi devi seppellir

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 me

E seppellire lassù in montagna
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E seppellire lassù in montagna
Sotto l’ombra di un bel fior

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 flower

Tutte le genti che passeranno
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
E le genti che passeranno
Mi diranno: “Che bel fior”

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”

E questo è il fiore del partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
Questo è il fiore del partigiano
Morto per la libertà

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

For better understanding you can listen to the song below:

So, if you were missing out on the true meaning of the song or contemplating if it’s a sad song, here you have your answer. Did you enjoy the song in Money Heist? Let us know in the comments below.