One part of the reason for the confusion is because this song is actually not in Italian but is completely written in the Genovese dialect that Fabrizio, I would imagine, knew quite well, being a native of Genoa, which is a sea port city in the North of Italy, and this song is really nothing more than just that: a great big gigantic ode to the mystery and magic of the Sea, and all the riches -- and good food! -- it has brought to the rich city of Genoa. Some readers might not know...but let me be the one to tell you: Christopher Colombus was actually born in Genoa, and I am not completely sure on this, but it is very possible that the specific Italian being sung in this song is actually a lot of what he himself would have understood as his citys own unique language. This is of course fascinating to think about! Especially when you realize that not all that many songs have ever been recorded in this dialect.
The entire album from which this song comes could probably have four books written about it, and perhaps in Italian it already does, I do not know. It is a very, very important album, however, and it is what sold me on DeAndre completely as an artist, because it is him doing all these songs in dialect as a sort of 'love letter' to Italy and its long history. DeAndre began his life as a songwriter working very much in the hippie folk singer vein that was popular at the time i nthe middle 60s, and most of his true classics and hits are all in standard Italian - which he spoke very well - but then he rather randomly decided to release this album in the 80s and it is very different from everything else he did, not just lyrically, but also musically. In fact, I would recommend listening to this album even if you cannot understand a word, because the truth is that most Italians also can't understand what is being said on this album - but they still listen to it, because it is really a masterpiece.
I think this is one of my favorite songs of all time and thankfully, though Fabrizio is gone from us, his song Cristiano DeAndre can still occasionally be found singing it live throughout the peninsula. Probably, I would actually shoot somebody to get a chance to see Cristiano perform this live!!! (laughig)
Ciaooooo and enjoy
Shadows of faces, faces of sailors
from where they come, where they go
from a place where the Moon is displayed nude
and at night, a knife is pointed at the throat
and to mount the Donkey, God has remained
The devil is in the sky, and the nest is made
We will get out of the sea, to dry the bones of Andrea
at the fountain of pigeons, in the House of Stone
And in the house of stone, who will be there
in the house of Andrea, who is not a sailor
the people of Lugano lifting the faces
them of the bass, prefer the wing
Girls of the family, a good odor
Possible to go with them, without a condom
And to my empty stomach, what will we give?
Things to drink and things to eat
Frittura of the fish, white Portofino
lamb brain in the same wine
Lasgna to cut from four sauces
A "Ssweet and sour mess" of a little slice of rabbit
and in the boat of the wine we will navigate on the rocks
emigrants of laughter with the nails in the eyes
until in the morning will grow something to tell
brothers of carnations, and of the girls
the father of the cord, of water and salt
who comes and anchors in the "muletrack" of the sea
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