"Juanita" is a love song variously subtitled "A Spanish Ballad", "A Song of Spain", etc. "Juanita" was first published in 1855 attributed to Mrs. Norton, with music arranged by T.G May. The opening four-bar phrase of the song is taken from Handel

HANDEL

HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

's aria Lascia ch'io pianga

Lascia ch'io pianga

Lascia ch'io pianga is a soprano aria by composer George Frideric Handel which has become a popular concert piece. The melody for the song began its life as an Asian dance in his 1705 opera Almira. As an aria the piece was first used in Handel's 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno;...

from the opera Rinaldo

Rinaldo (opera)

Rinaldo is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1711. It is the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill. The work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's...

, although the subsequent melody differs from that of the aria. The name of the song is derived from the refrains:

• (First)

Nita! Juanita! Ask thy soul if we should part!

Nita! Juanita! Lean thou on my heart.

• (Second)

Nita! Juanita! Let me linger by thy side!

Nita! Juanita! Be my own fair bride!

"Juanita" appears in numerous songbooks and has been recorded many times.