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Neapolitan
instruments

The tambourine

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Reginella


Museca: Gaetano Lama,

Vierze: Libero Bovio.

Anno: 1917

Regina


Music: Gaetano Lama,

Lyrics: Libero Bovio.

Year: 1917


Te sì fatta 'na vesta scullata,
'Nu cappiello cu 'e nastre e cu 'e rrose.
Stive 'mmiez'a tre o quatto sciantose
E parlave francese. È accussì?

Fuje ll'autriere ca t'aggio 'ncuntrata,
Fuje ll'autriere a Tuleto, 'gnorsì.

T'aggio vuluto bbene a tte!
Tu m'hê vuluto bbene a mme!
Mò nun ce amammo cchiù,
Ma ê vvote tu,
Distrattamente, pienze a me.

Reginè, quanno stive cu mmico,
Nun magnave ca pane e ccerase.
Nuje campavamo 'e vase, e che vase!
Tu cantave e chiagnive pe' mme.

E 'o cardillo cantava cu ttico:
"Reginella 'o vò bbene a 'stu rre!"

T'aggio vuluto bbene a tte!
Tu m'hê vuluto bbene a mme!
Mò nun ce amammo cchiù,
Ma ê vvote tu,
Distrattamente, parle 'e me.

Oje cardillo, a chi aspiette stasera?
Nun 'o vvide? Aggio aperta 'a cajola.
Reginella è vulata, e tu, vola!
Vola e canta, nun chiagnere ccà!

T'hê 'a truvà 'na padrona sincera
Ca è cchiù degna 'e sentirte 'e cantà.

T'aggio vuluto bbene a tte!
Tu m'hê vuluto bbene a mme!
Mò nun ce amammo cchiù,
Ma ê vvote tu,
Distrattamente, chiamme a me.

translated by Natalia Chernega


You had bought a low-cut dress
And a hat with ribbons and roses.
You were with three or four chansonettes
And spoke french. Is it so?

It was long time ago when I met you,
It was long time ago at Toledo street.

I loved you!
You loved me!
Now we don't love each other anymore,
But sometimes,
Carelessly you think of me.

Regina, when you were with me,
You were satisfied with the little.
We lived by kisses, and what kisses!
You sang and cried for me.

And your goldfinch sang with you:
"Regina loves his king!"

I loved you!
You loved me!
Now we don't love each other anymore,
But sometimes,
Carelessly you talk about me.

Oh, goldfinch, who are you waiting for?
Don't you see? I've opened the cage.
Regina flied away, and you, fly!
Fly and sing, don't cry here!

You have to find another sincere owner,
More worthy of listening you to sing.

I loved you!
You loved me!
Now we don't love each other anymore,
But sometimes,
Carelessly you call me.

translated by Natalia Chernega