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Neapolitan
instruments

The mandolin

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Comme se canta a Napule


Museca: E.A. Mario,

Vierze: E.A. Mario.

Anno: 1911

The way they sing in Naples


Music: E.A. Mario,

Lyrics: E.A. Mario.

Year: 1911


Comme se canta a Napule
T' 'o vvuò 'mparà, pecché già tte n'adduone
Ca dint' ô core va 'nu raggio 'e sole,
Sentenno 'na canzona.
E Napule chest'è, chesto pò dà,
Pò dà speranze a chi nun spera cchiù,
Resate allere e freve 'e passione.

E basta sulamente
'Nu mandulino
P'avantà 'e ttrezze bbelle e ll'uocchie doce,
'N'aria 'e ciardino,
'Nu filo 'e voce,
'Nu core ardente
Ca, ride o chiagne, vò sempe cantà.

Ccanzone ca suspirano
Dint'a 'na varca o sott'a 'nu barcone,
Ccanzone, allere e triste, ca ogne core
Se 'mpara 'e ogne staggione.
E a chi è straniero e vene, o se ne va,
Core lle dice: "Canta pure tu!
Ricordate 'stu cielo e 'sti ccanzone!"

E basta sulamente
'Nu mandulino
P'avantà 'e ttrezze bbelle e ll'uocchie doce,
'N'aria 'e ciardino,
'Nu filo 'e voce,
'Nu core ardente
Ca, ride o chiagne, vò sempe cantà.

Pe' chi se canta a Napule
Tu 'o vvuò sapè? P' 'e rrose e p' 'e vviole,
P' 'o cielo e 'o mare e maje pe' fà tesore,
P'ammore e p' 'e ffigliole.
Perciò chi nasce dint'a 'sta città,
Passa, cantanno, tutt' 'a giuventù:
Nuttate 'e luna e matenate 'e sole.

E basta sulamente
'Nu mandulino
P'avantà 'e ttrezze bbelle e ll'uocchie doce,
'N'aria 'e ciardino,
'Nu filo 'e voce,
'Nu core ardente
Ca, ride o chiagne, vò sempe cantà.

translated by Natalia Chernega


The way they sing in Naples
You'd like to learn it, because you've noticed
That shines in your heart a ray of sun
When you listen to a song.
And this is Naples, it can give
A hope to someone who doesn't hope anymore,
A merry laughter and consuming passion.

Is enough
Only one mandolin
To sing of beautiful curls and sweet eyes,
A fragrant garden,
A soft voice,
A passionate heart
That always sings, in joy or sadness.

Songs that you can hear
In a boat or under a balcony,
Are cheerful and sad songs that everybody
Keeps in their heart in any season.
And any foreigner who comes or goes away,
His heart tells him: "Sing!
Remember this sky and these songs!"

Is enough
Only one mandolin
To sing of beautiful curls and sweet eyes,
A fragrant garden,
A soft voice,
A passionate heart
That always sings, in joy or sadness.

For whom they sing in Naples
Would you like to know? For roses and violets,
For the sky and the sea, not to make money,
For love and beautiful girls.
Because who was born in this city
Spends his entire youth singing:
Moonlit nights and sunny days.

Is enough
Only one mandolin
To sing of beautiful curls and sweet eyes,
A fragrant garden,
A soft voice,
A passionate heart
That always sings, in joy or sadness.

translated by Natalia Chernega