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Neapolitan
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The putipù

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Sora mia!


Museca: Ernesto De Curtis,

Vierze: Rocco Galdieri.

Anno: 1910

My sister!


Music: Ernesto De Curtis,

Lyrics: Rocco Galdieri.

Year: 1910


Sora mia, 'nzerra 'sta porta,
Mena 'a chiave a 'o catenaccio.
E a chi spia: "S'è retirato?"
Tu rispunne: "Nun 'o ssaccio".
Ma si vene 'na figliola
Pe' sapè si songo asciuto,
Nn'arapì… ma, sottovoce,
Dille: "Fratemo è partuto…

S'è 'mbarcato cu 'nu legno
Mercantile, bella nè…
Se n'è gghiuto fore regno
Pe' nun sentere cchiù a te".

Sora mia, sento 'nu passo
Ca s'accosta chianu chiano,
'Nfacci'ê llastre d' 'o telaro
Veco stennerse 'na mano.
'A vi' lloco… sento 'a voce…
Sora mia, si me vuò bbene,
Dille: "Hê fatto troppo tarde…
Se sò sciuovete 'e ccatene.

S'è 'mbarcato cu 'nu legno
Mercantile, bella nè…
Se n'è gghiuto fore regno
Pe' nun sentere cchiù a te".

Ma tu chiagne? E pecché chiagne?
Pecché a mme me tremm' 'a voce?
Sora mia, fatte curaggio,
Ca pe' mme 'stu chianto è ddoce!
No, i' nun parto pecché saccio
Che vò dì ll'ammore 'e sora,
Ma tu 'o ddice sulo a chella,
Si venesse… ch'io stò ffora!

S'è 'mbarcato cu 'nu legno
Mercantile, bella nè…
Se n'è gghiuto fore regno
Pe' nun sentere cchiù a te.

translated by Natalia Chernega


My sister, close the door,
Leave the key in the lock.
And to the one who asks: "Is he come back?"
Answer this way: "I don't know it".
And if a girl comes
To see if I'm out,
Don't open… but, in a low voice,
Tell her: "My brother has gone away…

He has boarded a merchant ship,
Beautiful girl…
He has left the kingdom*
Not to hear of you anymore".

My sister, I hear footsteps
Coming slowly closer,
On the window
I see a hand reaching out.
It's her… I hear her voice…
My sister, if you love me
Tell her: "You are too late…
The chains are loose.

He has boarded a merchant ship,
Beautiful girl…
He has left the kingdom
Not to hear of you anymore".

But are you crying? And why are you crying?
Why is my voice shaking?
My sister, take courage,
For me your crying is sweet!
No, I don't go away, because I know
What sister's love means,
But only to her you have to say,
If she comes… that I have gone away!

He has boarded a merchant ship,
Beautiful girl…
He has left the kingdom
Not to hear of you anymore.

translated by Natalia Chernega

* Kingdom of Italy,
till june 1946 Italy was the monarchy.