BENVENUTI! WELCOME to LYRICS of RITURNELLA
This album is a homage and celebration of the rich Italian folk song tradition that was handed down to me in Australia. Being part of the Italian diaspora has given me a passion to get inside these jewel like melodies with their captivating stories of the oil -lamp lit times, the lonely struggles of poverty,work and migration and the deep loves ,humour and cheek of my ancestors. The songs dark, fertile soil have nurtured my spirit,helping my own original songwriting! These songs could be sung today.The emotions remain eternal.So like the swallow, I return to the source like a Riturnella (little swallow) Apologies for mistakes which are mine . Please get in touch with me if you spot some error. Thankyou . Grazie!
1.Fammi Restari (A love song of seductionfrom Sicily 1600s).
Let me rest in your arms. Give me a kiss with your red mouth. Hold me tight and caress me. Don’t leave me, stay close to me. Let me touch your petticoat. Put your hand into the middle of this garden. Don’t be afraid if your mother comes. Believe me when I say I love you. Give me kisses, sweet with love. Don’t be proud of these good things I am saying. Stay close to me - look at me in my eyes - don’t lay there as if you’re dead! Don’t be afraid I will do you no harm. Squeeze me tight! Don’t leave me, stay close to me. Stay close to me.
Am. /C. / G ./ ]Am /
Fammi restare do menzu di tu brazza
Am /C /G /Em
dammi nu bacittu cu sta bucuzza rosa
Am /C /G /F
tenama strittu e fammi na carizza
Am /C /G Em/Am
Non mi lassari resta mia vicinu (x2)
Fammi restare do menzu di tu brazza
fammi tuccari na pica sutta vesti
porta la manu do menzu stu giardino
Non mi lassari resta mia vicinu
Fammi restare do menzu di tu brazza
Scantu naviri, si la tua madre veni
strincitti forti e ca ti voghiu bedi
Non mi lassari resta mia vicinu
Fammi restare do menzu di tu brazza
dammi sta bucuzza ,duci dil amuri
non timpriari di sti cosi bedi
Non mi lassari resta mia vicinu
Fammi restare do menzu di tu brazza
vaddimi dal occhi, non restare morta
scantu naviri non ti fazzu mali
Non mi lassari resta mia vicinu
2.SENTO IL FISCHIO ( I hear the steamboats whistle ) This song is from the Piedmont/Liguria region and was popular in the 1930's.Sento il Fischio came from the " Le Mondine"(rice weeders) repetoire it was made popular in the 60's by Giovanna Daffini , a rice weeder herself and singer of the new song movement .Le Mondine worked hard and sang in the rice fields to keep up thier spirits.This is one of their many lively songs telling of Italy's military campaign in Albania in 1914 thus becoming an anthem for women's emancipation with anti war sentiments.You can get a window into the world of Le Mondine in the landmark neo realist film of 1949 Riso Amaro or Bitter Rice by Dino Di Laurentis .
It says; I hear the steamboat's whistle and my love has gone to Albania . Who knows when he'll return? And when he comes back ,his sword will be dipped in blood.If he finds me already married there will be pain and suffering . What pain and sorrow what an awful beast love is i would rather starve then never make love again. I want to make it in the morning and the night until Spring comes
Spring has come and my love hasn't returned. They have locked me in a convent and they've cut off my hair! It was blonde,curly and beautiful and they have cut off my beauty!
SENTO IL FISCHIO
D A D
Sento il fischio del vapore del mio amore che va via,
D A D
sento il fischio del vapore del mio amore che va via,
G D G D G D A D
ed è partito per l'Albania, chissà quando ritornerà! x 2
Ritornerà sta primavera con la spada insanguinata,
Ritornerà sta primavera con la spada insanguinata,
e se mi trova già maritata, ohi che pena, o che dolor!
O che pena, oi che dolore, che brutta bestia è mai l'amore,
O che pena, ohi che dolore, che brutta bestia è mai l'amore,
Starò piuttosto senza mangiare, ma l'amore lo voglio far',
*Lo voglio far mattina e sera finché vien la primavera
Lo voglio far mattina e sera finché vien la primavera
la primavera è già arrivata ma il mio amore non è tornà.
M' hanno rinchiuso in un convento e mi han tagliato i miei capelli;
M' hanno rinchiuso in un convento e mi han tagliato i miei capelli;
ed eran biondi e ricci e belli, m'han tagliato le mie beltà.
3.RITURNELLA (Calabria 1700s) 3:44
Hey swallow! You who flies across back and forth across the sea .Stop a while and i'll tell you a thing or two.Go and take my sighs and throw them in to the sea. and see if my love answers me.She doesn't respond as she is too far away .She is sleeping in the shade .When she awakens, she wipes her eyes her crying stops . Please bring her my handkerchief to dry her tears .Take the hanky to Naples to the washerwomen where they will wash it ,hang it to dry on a rose bush to make it smell sweet and iron it "neopolitan style " then send it back on the wind to her but pay attention not to drop it in the sea or else my heart will break !
6/4/Am...... /Am......
1. Tu rìnnina chi vai ? Tu rìnnina chi vai?
4/4/ .... G / F .... / Am.. Bm.. /6/4 Am ...... /
Lu maru maru Oi Riturnella, ferma quannu ti dicu dui paroli
2.Corri a jettari lu, Corri a jettari lu
Suspiru a mari Pe’ vìderi se mi rišpunnu lu mio beni
3.Non mi rišpunna, annò Non mi rišpunna,
annò È troppu luntano, È sutt’a na frišcura Chi sta durmennu
4.Poi si ripiglia cu Poi si ripiglia cu lu chjantu all’occhi
Si stuja l’occhi e li Passa lu chjantu
5.Piglia lu muccaturu Piglia lu muccaturu
Lu vaju a llavu Poi ti lu špannu a nu Peru de rosa
6.Poi ti lu mannu a Na Poi ti lu mannu
a Napuli a stirare Poi ti lu cogliu a la Napulitana
7.Poi ti lu mannu cu Poi ti lu mannu cu
Ventu a purtari Ventu và portacellu A lu mio beni
8.Mera pe’ nun ti cada, Mera pe’ nun ti cada
Pe’ supra mari,Ca perdo li sigilli ,De chistu cori
4.Nova Gelosia (Campania / Naples area 1700's) 3:09
You window shutters
with your gold nails all sparkling ,
please open just bit
so that i may see my beloved
,otherwise i'm going to die!
6/8 A D A E A
Fenesta cu sta nova gelosia
A D Esus /E A
tutta lucente de centrella d'oro
A D A E F#m
tu m'annesconne nennella bella mia
D A B7 E A
e lassa me lla vede` si no me moro! X2
E A
Fenesta cu sta nova gelosia
E A
tutta lucente de centrella d'oro
D A E F#m
tu m'annesconne nennella bella mia
D A B7 E A
e lassa me lla vede` si no me moro!
5.Scura Maia ( Funeral lament from Abbruzzi1800's) 3:06
Poor me ! My heart is black ! You have died and what can i do except scratch my face and cut my hair in mourning .You have left your family without shoes and without a thing. When we awake in the morning the children ask for food but there is no bread -poor me My heart is black ! when we returned home from the funeral the creditors had taken all our things and i went to the courts but they still took our things ,poor me poor me .I had a little house but now im homeless without bread without a bed to sleep in and the dogs are always barking poor me!! My heart is black !
3/4 Am E Am
Scura maie scura mai
E Am
tu sei morte e chinda faccie
Dm Am
mo' me straccie treccie 'n faccia
Dm Am
mo' mi ietta ' n cuozze a taglie
E Am
scura maie, scura maie
M'ai lasciate 'na famiglia
scaize nude appetita'use
chind 'appena si risveglia
vuole `l pane e i ni 'll'aie
scura maie ,scura maie
Quando case i riette
ci truvette ddui usciere
e ci andenne lu prucesse
me sequestrette la roba maie
scura maie scura maie
La teneva na caserelle
mo` non tiengi chiu riciette
senza pane e senza liette
la cacciuna semp' abbaie
scura maie, scura maie !
6.E Tra Lla Llerru( Harvest song from Sicily 1800's) 3:21
It's one year since i have raked the earth with the hope that i get a lot of grapes . From cleaning the vines of dead leaves, nothing left of my hands and even even my fingernails are gone from scraping the earth from the stakes .Now is the time that we have to harvest. Like Pontious Pilate i wash my hands and wait to see what God will give me..
Em
Avi un annu chi zappu la vigna
B7
Cu la spiranza di lu vinnignari
No ristai manu nitannu sta vigna
Em
e mancu l'ugna rascannu sti pali
Em
Ora chi vinni, Ora chi vinni
B7
lu tempu di lu vinnignari
Coma Pilatu Coma Pilatu
Em
Coma Pilatu ,mi lavu li mani
Am Em
E Trallaleru E Trallaleru
B7 Am
E Trallaleru La Leru la la x2
Am Em
Avi un annu chi zappu la vigna
B7 Em
Cu la spiranza di lu vinnignari
Am Em
No ristai manu nitannu sta vigna
B7 Em
e mancu l'ugna rascannu sti pali
Am Em
Ora chi vinni, Ora chi vinni
B7 Em
lu tempu di lu vinnignari
Am Em
Coma Pilatu Coma Pilatu
B7 Em
Coma Pilatu ,mi lavu li mani
Am Em
E Trallaleru E Trallaleru
B7 Em
E Trallaleru La Leru la la x 2
7.Ricciulina ( Song of Betrayal from Campania / Napoli 1700's) 3:14
Oh Curly haired one,Oh Morrocan girl! Oh Miss! You've gone and done some sneaky business. you have done fa Li La Lia La ! You have betrayed me ,wounded me you knew what you were doing ! You want me dead, but you have a huge ego. Beautiful and shiny like a star, you have pimped yourself and made yourself a whore!
E Am E
Oi Ricciulina
Am G C
oi marranchina
C G C Am Esus E
oi signurina, fai la li la... x 2
G
Fa' li la li la...
C
Fa Li la Li La
Dm Esus E
Fa Li La Li La Li La Li La x 2
Tu m'he traduto
e m'he feruto
l'aggio saputo, fai la li la...
Fa' li la li la...etc
Tu me vuò muorto
ma io me ne accuorto
ma hai gran tuorto,
fai la li la... Fa' li la li la...
Stella diana
sì ruffiana
fai la puttana,
fai la li la Fa' li la li la..etc.
8.VULUMBRELLA( love song from Campania 1400s)
The fig is sweet and not bitter ,perfectly formed and beautiful. How every fig will ripen and mature in time.It is soft and not hard. It doesn’t show itself to be sour.
It’s not too proud and has humility. It is without airs and graces.
Now your grass is green and the world is reborn. How every fig will ripen and mature in time.
The fig is half soft and fighting amongst the leaves.
Be like them - don’t wait till you become half dry and fall on the ground. Do it in a way that you are proud, cold and beautiful because every fig in time will ripen and mature
D C
Fatte molla e no cchiù ddura
D C
mò che si' formosa e bella
C D
ca ogne fica vulumbrella
C D../ D../ C../C../ D../ D../ C../C../
a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura.
Fatte doce e no cchiù amara,
nun te fa' vedere acerba
e non essere tanto brava,
fatte umile e non superba.
Mò ca è verde
la toja erba
e lu munno renovella,
ca ogne fica vulumbrella
a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura.
E mò ca sì mmeza ammullata,
e tra fronne fai la guerra
nun aspettare ca si' seccata
e che cade in chiana terra.
Fa' ca po' da te se sferra,
ca sì tosta fredda e bella,
ca ognI fica vulumbrella
a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura.
9.Mi Votu Mi Rivotu (Song of Unrequited love from Sicily 1800s ) 3:18
I toss and turn sighing, the whole night passes without sleep,and i contemplate your beauty and the night passes till dawn.because of you i don't sleep even for an hour. I Can't find peace and my heart suffers . You want to know when i am going to let you go ? when my lifeis finished and i am dead!
Mi Votu Mi rivotu suspirannu
passu l'interi nottu senza sonnu
e li bedizzi toi vaiu cuntimplannu
mi passa di la notti 'nsina jornu
Ppi tia non pozzu un' ura arripussari
paci non havi cchiu sta frittu cori
lu vo sapiri quannu t'haiu a lassari?
Quannu la vita mia finisci e mori !
10.Maremma Amara
(Tuscany 1800's) 2:39
Everyone talks about the Maremma.But for me Maremma is bitter. The bird that flies loses its feathers ,but I have instead have lost someone dear to me
May Maremma be damned and all who love her! My heart always trembles when you go to the Maremma because I'm afraid that you'll never return!
May Maremma be damned and all who love her.
A D
Tutti mi dicon Maremma,Maremma,
D A E A
ma a me mi pare una Maremma amara.
L’uccelo che ci va perde la penna,
io c’ho perduto una persona cara.
Sia maledetta Maremma Maremma,
sia maledetta Maremma e chi l’ama.
Sempre mi trema il cor quando ci vai
perché ho paura che non torni mai.
Sia maledetta Maremma Maremma,
sia maledetta Maremma e chi l’ama.
11.ANGELLARE` ( Lament from Campania 1700s )
Who has taken my darling? A fairy or magician must have taken her! Oh Angellare`! Whether it’s over land or over the sea, I must find her. I will never tire of searching for her. If I don’t find her ,I will want to die immediately. If you see that ingrate, you tell her this! I am calling her name, Angellare`!
Am E
Nena mia, chi sa pigliata ?
E Am
Nenna mia, cchia nun ce' sta
Am E
quarca maga, quarca fate
E Am
se la vuta da piglia?
Am G C
Angellare~ bam bu
Dm Am E Am
Angellare~ bum Ba x2
Mope terra, mope mare
certo laggia da trovar'
ficche laggia da trovare
nun me voglio maja stancar'
Angellare~ bam bu
Angellare~ bum Ba
Si`! Non trova Nena 'mata
Voglio subbeto muri`!
Chi vedite chell'n'grata,
vuiji decitele cusi`
Angellare~ bam bu
Angellare~ bum Ba
12.L’America ( Betrayal song lament from Puglia 1800s)
Oh Maria, my dearest friend! The best flower of our youth has left for America! My husband has left for America but never writes to me perhaps he has found an American woman! If he has found an American Woman, I will find myself a local fellow. America is no longer called America, it’s the ruin of the family home!
La meju gioventu` partiu l'America
la meju gioventu` partiu l'America
la meju gioventù` O Maria sorta mia
la meju gioventu` partiu l'America
Maritama e` 'scuitu l'America e nun me scrive
Maritama e` 'scuitu l'America e nun me scrive
forse ca sa trovate O Maria sorta Mia!
forse ca sa trovate 'n' Americana
Se idda se l'ha truvate l'americana
Se idda se l'ha truvate l'americana
jeu m'aggiu truvatu O Maria sorta mia
jeu m'aggiu truvatu'nu paissant
L'America nun se chiama chiu L'America
L'America nun se chiama chiu L'America
Se chiama la rovina, O Maria sorta Mia!
Se chiama la rovina della casa!
13.Vurria Addeventare (Unrequited love song from Puglia 1500s)
I would like to become the slippers under your feet but you would destroy me by running in them! I would like to be the lime plant on your balcony but I would surely wither because you wouldn’t water me! I would like to be a mirror so as to gaze at you but you would give me to an ugly hag. I would like to be made of ice so as not to burn of love but you surely would melt me with your ardent eyes!
Vurria addeventare chianellette e po' stare
Vurria addeventare chianellette e po' stare
sotto a sti piere, ma si lu sapisse, ma si lu sapisse
pe' straziarme tu curremmo jsse
Vurria addeventare cetrangolo pe'stare
Vurria addeventare cetrangolo pe'stare
a sta fenesta ,ma si lu sapisse,ma si lu sapisse
pe' darme morte ,seccare me farrisse
Vurria addeventare specchio pe te mirare
Vurria addeventare specchio pe te mirare
pe te mirare ,ma si lu sapisse ,ma si lu sapisse
a qualche vecchia brutta me darrisse
Vurria addeventare ghiaccio pe nun bruciare
Vurria addeventare ghiaccio pe nun bruciare
acussi` forte, ma si lu sapisse,ma si lu sapisse
cu'st'uocchie ardente, tu me squagliarisse