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The mandolin

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

I' mm'arricordo 'e Napule


Museca: Giuseppe Gioè,

Vierze: Pasquale Esposito.

Anno: 1919

I recall Naples


Music: Giuseppe Gioè,

Lyrics: Pasquale Esposito.

Year: 1919


I' mm'arricordo 'e Napule 'e matina,
Quanno schiarava juorno a ppoco a ppoco,
'Nu ventariello doce e 'n'aria fina,
Spuntava 'o sole 'ncielo comm' ô ffoco.

'A tutt' 'e ffronne canteva auciello
E salutava a tutt' 'e nnenne bbelle
E 'a 'nu guaglione 'mmanech' 'e cammisa
Senteva chesta voce 'e paraviso:

"Rrose, rrose de maggio,
Rrose pe' 'nnammurate,
Cu 'st'aria 'mbarzamata
Vuje dint' ô lietto state?"

I' mm'arricordo 'e Napule 'e cuntrore,
'O sole ca cuceva 'e sentimente,
'Na coppia 'e 'nnammurate a 'na cert'ora
Se deva a Margellina appuntamento.

E lu Vesuvio visto da luntano,
'O mare ca sbatteva chiano chiano,
Mentre de' scoglie respirav' addore,
Senteva 'n'ata voce 'e cantatore:

"I' tengo 'a 'nnammurata ch'è bella
E stò geloso,
E tengo 'e persiane
Apposta pe' dischiude".

I' mm'arricordo 'e Napule 'e nuttata,
'Ncopp'a ll'onne Pusilleco addurmeva
E po' menava 'n'aria profumata,
Comm'a ll'argiento 'a luna le spanneva.

E quanno 'e chillo cielo i' mm'arricordo,
Me vene a ll'uocchie 'e llagreme 'nu velo,
Pare ca veco 'e stelle 'na curona
E sento ancora ll'eco 'e 'sta canzona:

"Oje, varca lenta e stracqua,
I' penzo 'a nenna mia,
C' 'a voglio bbene ancora,
E moro 'e gelusia".

translated by Natalia Chernega


I recall Naples in morning
When only just the day was beginning,
The light breeze and the clear air,
The sun was rising in the sky like a fire.

On all the branches the birds sang
And greeted all the beautiful girls
And one guy in a shirt
Sang by the voice of paradise:

"Roses, roses of May,
Roses for the lovers,
With this enchanting air
Do you still sleep?"

I recall Naples in afternoon,
The sun that burned the feelings,
A pair of lovers, that at a certain time,
Went for meeting in Mergellina*.

And the Vesuvius seen by long distance,
The sea that was swashing quietly
While from the rocks you breathed its odour
A voice of another singer was heard:

"I have the beloved who is beautiful
And I'm jealous
And I have the shutters
In order to hide her".

I recall Naples at night,
Above the waves Posillipo* slept
And then the caressing wind took you away,
Like on a silver carpet that the moon spread.

And when I recollect that sky
From my eyes the tears are falling,
It seems as if I see a crown of stars
And I listen to the echo of this song:

"Oh, slow and tired boat,
I think of my beloved,
I still love her
And I'm dying from jealousy".

translated by Natalia Chernega

* Mergellina and Posillipo are quarters of Naples.