Funiculì, Funiculà

All Nursery Rhymes — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 08:22:39 +0000

The Italian song “Funiculì, Funiculà” dates from 1880 and was originally written in the Neapolitan dialect by composer Luigi Denza and journalist Peppino Turco (lyrics) to inaugurate the first funicular cable on Mount Vesuvius.

Besides the literary translation in English there is another version of the song, known as “A Merry Life” which was adapted and composed by lyricist Edward Oxenford, being more popular in English speaking countries.

The original version of “Funiculì, Funiculà” has been promoted internationally by many artists in movies, cartoons, soundtracks or commercials.

“Funiculì, Funiculà” Lyrics

Funiculì, Funiculà Neapolitan song

Aissera, oje Nanniné, me ne sagliette,
tu saje addó, tu saje addó
Addó ‘stu core ‘ngrato cchiù dispietto
farme nun pò! Farme nun pò!
Addó lu fuoco coce, ma se fuje
te lassa sta! Te lassa sta!
E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struje
sulo a guardà, sulo a guardà.
(Coro)
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà,
‘ncoppa, jamme jà, funiculì, funiculà!
Né, jamme da la terra a la montagna!
Nu passo nc’è! Nu passo nc’è!
Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna…
Io veco a tte! Io veco a tte!
Tirato co la fune, ditto ‘nfatto,
‘ncielo se va, ‘ncielo se va.
Se va comm’ ‘a lu viento a l’intrasatto,
guè, saglie, sà! Guè, saglie, sà!
(Coro)
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà,
‘ncoppa, jamme jà, funiculì, funiculà!
Se n’è sagliuta, oje né, se n’è sagliuta,
la capa già! La capa già!
È gghiuta, po’ è turnata, po’ è venuta,
sta sempe ccà! Sta sempe ccà!
La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a tte! Attuorno a tte!
Stu core canta sempe nu taluorno:
Sposamme, oje né! Sposamme, oje né!
(Coro)
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
Jamme, jamme ‘ncoppa, jamme jà,
funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà,
‘ncoppa, jamme jà, funiculì, funiculà!

Funiculì, Funiculà English translation

I climbed up high this evening, oh, Nanetta,
Do you know where? Do you know where?
Where this ungrateful heart
No longer pains me! No longer pains me!
Where fire burns, but if you run away,
It lets you be, it lets you be!
It doesn’t follow after or torment you
Just with a look, just with a look.
(Chorus)
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we’ll go, funiculi, funicula!
Let’s go from here below up to the mountain,
A step away! A step away!
You can see France, Procida, and Spain,
And I see you! And I see you!
You rise, pulled by a cable, quick as a wink,
Into the sky! Into the sky!
We’ll rise up like a whirlwind all of a sudden
Knows how to do! Knows how to do!
(Chorus)
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we’ll go, funiculi, funicula!
The car has climbed up high, see, climbed up high now,
Right to the top! Right to the top!
It went, and turned around, and came back down,
And now it’s stopped! And now it’s stopped!
The top is turning round, and round, and round,
Around yourself! Around yourself!
My heart is singing the same refrain:
We should be wed! We should be wed!
(Chorus)
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Let’s go, let’s go! To the top we’ll go!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
To the top we’ll go, funiculi, funicula!

“A Merry Life”

English Traditional Version of Funiculì, Funiculà

Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,
And so do I! And so do I!
Some think it well to be all melancholic,
To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;
But I, I love to spend my time in singing,
Some joyous song, some joyous song,
To set the air with music bravely ringing
Is far from wrong! Is far from wrong!
Harken, harken, music sounds a-far!
Harken, harken, with a happy heart!
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
Joy is everywhere, funiculì, funiculà!

Ah me! ’tis strange that some should take to sighing,
And like it well! And like it well!
For me, I have not thought it worth the trying,
So cannot tell! So cannot tell!
With laugh, with dance and song the day soon passes
Full soon is gone, full soon is gone,
For mirth was made for joyous lads and lasses
To call their own! To call their own!
Harken, harken, hark the soft guitar!
Harken, harken, hark the soft guitar!
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
Hark the soft guitar, funiculì, funiculà!

Bella Ciao

All Nursery Rhymes — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 06:47:40 +0000

The famous Italian song “Bella Ciao” is a protest anthem sung around the world as an anti-fascist symbol of resistance and freedom.

Who sang the original “Bella Ciao”?

This version is an adaptation of an old song from the late nineteenth century, which appeared during the liberation movement and protests against extremely difficult working conditions of women in the rice fields in northern Italy.

The lyrics were later taken over and adapted in turn by anti-fascist and anti-Nazi movements in Italy. It has become a worldwide protest song being adapted in many languages by artists around the world. In recent history “Bella Ciao” has become the anthem of revolutions and protests.

“Bella Ciao” Lyrics

Bella Ciao Italian Traditional Song

Alla mattina appena alzata
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao, ciao, ciao
alla mattina appena alzata
in risaia mi tocca andar.

E fra gli insetti e le zanzare
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
e fra gli insetti e le zanzare
un dur lavoro mi tocca far.

Il capo in piedi col suo bastone
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
il capo in piedi col suo bastone
e noi curve a lavorar.

O mamma mia o che tormento
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
o mamma mia o che tormento
io t’invoco ogni doman.

Ed ogni ora che qui passiamo
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
ed ogni ora che qui passiamo
noi perdiam la gioventù.

Ma verrà un giorno che tutte quante
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
ma verrà un giorno che tutte quante
lavoreremo in libertà.

Bella Ciao English Translation

In the morning I got up
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao (Goodbye beautiful)
In the morning I got up
To the paddy rice fields, I have to go.

And between insects and mosquitoes
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and between insects and mosquitoes
a hard work I have to work.

The boss is standing with his cane
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
the boss is standing with his cane
and we work with our backs curved.

Oh my god, what a torment
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
oh my god, what a torment
as I call you every morning.

And every hour that we pass here
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and every hour that we pass here
we lose our youth.

But the day will come when us all
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
but the day will come when us all
will work in freedom.

Italian rhymes – Nursery Rhymes