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Libero Bovio's
other songs

Maistà!
Quanta rrose!
Reginella

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Addio a Maria


Museca: Vincenzo D'Annibale,

Vierze: Libero Bovio.

Anno: 1942

Goodbye to Maria


Music: Vincenzo D'Annibale,

Lyrics: Libero Bovio.

Year: 1942

It was the last poetry of Libero Bovio that, shortly before his death, he had dedicated to his wife Maria Di Furia.
Some time after the poet's death Maria had asked Vincenzo D'Annibale to compose music to it.


Addio, Marì, canzona d' 'e ccanzone,
Luce e cumpagna 'e tutt' 'a vita mia!
"Addio" te dico senza cante e suone,
Sulo cu ll'uocchie d' 'a malincunia.

I' lasso 'o mare, tu ce pienze? 'O mare,
'O mare d'oro nun 'o veco cchiù
E cchiù nun veco ll'albe chiare, chiare
Ch'erano fresche comm' â giuventù.

Addio, Marì, Maria,
Salutammella Napule pe' mme!
Dille ch'è stata 'a passiona mia!
Dille ca ll'aggio amata quant' a te!

Maria, sì stata 'a vita d' 'e ccanzone,
E mò sì 'a vita 'e chi nun ce sta cchiù.
I' moro 'mbracci'a te, nun te n'adduone?
Ca i' canto e moro sott' 'o cielo blu.

E moro e canto: Napule, sì bella!
E 'o popolo sultanto è degno 'e te.
Napule, sì 'na rosa, sì 'na stella,
Sì 'na stella ca luce comm'a cche!

Addio, Marì, Maria,
Salutammella Napule pe' mme!
Dille ch'è stata 'a passiona mia!
Dille ca ll'aggio amata quant' a te!

Maria, Marì!

translated by Natalia Chernega


Goodbye, Maria, my most beautiful song,
My companion, you are the light of all my life!
I say you "goodbye" without words and music,
Only with my eyes full of melancholy.

I leave this sea, do you hear it? The sea,
The sea, I never see it anymore
And I never see the sunrise anymore
That was so beautiful like my youth.

Goodbye, Maria, Maria,
Say hello to Naples for me!
Tell to my city it has become my passion!
Tell to my city I loved it like I loved you!

Maria, you were the life of my songs
And now you are the life of who is close to death.
I'm dying in your arms, don't you see it?
That I'm singing and dying under the blue sky.

I'm dying and singing: Naples, you are beautiful!
And only this people are worthy of you.
Naples, you are a rose, you are a star,
You are a star that shines so bright!

Goodbye, Maria, Maria,
Say hello to Naples for me!
Tell to my city it has become my passion!
Tell to my city I loved it like I loved you!

Maria, Maria!

translated by Natalia Chernega