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Neapolitan
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Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Arietta luciana


Museca: Vincenzo D'Annibale,

Vierze: E. A. Mario.

Anno: 1918

Aria of Santa Lucia


Music: Vincenzo D'Annibale,

Lyrics: E. A. Mario.

Year: 1918

Santa Lucia is a historic quarter of Naples on the seacoast.

Instrumental version


Chi me vò bbene sta a Santa Lucia;
Tene 'nu balcunciello a riva 'e mare.
Bella nun è, ma è tutta simpatia,
Ricca nun è, ma tene ll'uocchie rare.
E sò chill'uocchie tutt' 'a vita mia,
Sò 'a vita 'e chistu core
Ca 'mmiez' ô mare va…
'Stu core piscatore
Cuntento e allero sta
Si sente annummenà Santa Lucia!

'A varca mia se chiamma "Carulina"
E porta 'o nomme a prora: è 'o nomme 'e nenna;
Pecchesto sfila, quanno se 'ncammina,
Pecchesto sfila e va comm'a 'na penna.
E 'mmiez' ê marenare 'e 'sta marina
Pare 'nu rre 'stu core
Quanno p' 'o mare va.
'Stu core piscatore
Cuntento e allero sta
Quanno p' 'o mare va cu "Carulina".

Chi tene 'a varca leggia sempe canta,
Chi tene fantasia tutto se sonna…
E 'o varcajuolo è ricco e se ne vanta
Si nun va sulo e triste 'ncopp'a ll'onna.
Si aggi' 'a passà 'sta vita tuttaquanta
'Mmiez'a 'stu mare, 'o core
Nun è scuntento, no:
'Stu core piscatore
Sultanto chesto vò:
Vò stà a Santa Lucia: fatica e canta!

Santa Lucia!

translated by Natalia Chernega


She who loves me lives in Santa Lucia;
Her balcony looks out on the seacoast.
She's not beautiful, but she's pretty,
She's not rich, but she has amazing eyes.
And those eyes of hers are all my life,
The beating of my heart
When I sail out to sea…
My fisherman's heart
Is contented and cheerful
If I hear any mention of Santa Lucia!

My boat is named "Carolina"
And it has this name on its bow: it's the name of my girl;
Therefore my boat goes fast when it sails out,
Therefore my boat goes fast and light as a feather.
And among the seamen of this coast
My heart is like the king
When it goes by sea,
My fisherman's heart
Is contented and cheerful
When I go on the sea by "Carolina".

Who has a light boat, always sings,
Who has fantasy, dreams of everything…
And a boatman is rich and proud if he's not lonely
And sad when he goes through the waves.
If I have to spend my whole life
In the middle of this sea
My heart isn't dissatisfied, no:
My fisherman's heart
Only wants it:
It wants to stay in Santa Lucia to work and sing!

Santa Lucia!

translated by Natalia Chernega