Sul mare luccica (Santa Lucia)
SANTA LUCIA, one of the most famous Neapolitan songs, is an ode dedicated to the city of
Naples and to the Santa Lucia area which faces the Gulf of Naples.
The lyrics are the words of a boatman describing the view from Santa Lucia: It is night and the
moon is reflected in the sea. He tells us of the indescribable magic that one can feel while
watching the boats in the sea; how they sail softly, driven by a gentle breezes. The boatman
invites people to board his boat saying how you will admire the sea and the city of Naples.
Naples is described beautifully in this song as, "suolo beato, ove sorridere volle il Creato"). The
Santa Lucia quarter is called "impero dell'armonia" (the empire of harmony).
See this link: http://italiamerica.org/SantaLucia.htm It contains a piece of Santa Lucia sung by Enrico Caruso at the
beginning of 1900.
See also http://giuseppeverdi.solomp3.com/36559_Enrico_Caruso_Recital.html
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento
Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento. Repeat both
Venite all'agile barchetta mia!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (2x)
On the sea shines the silver star
Placid is the wave, prosperous is the wind
Come to my quick little boat!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Con questo zeffiro così soave,
oh! com'è bello star sulla nave! [repeat both]
Su passeggeri, venite via!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (2x)
With this zephyr [west wind] so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful it is to be on the boat!!
Come passengers, come away!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
O dolce Napoli, o suol beato,
ove sorridere volle il creato!(repeat both)
Tu sei l'impero dell'armonia!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (2x)
Oh sweet Naples, oh blessed land,
where the creation [created] wished to smile!
You are the empire of harmony!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Or che tardate? Bella è la sera
Spira un'auretta fresca e leggera.(repeat both)
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (2x)
Now why do you delay? Beautiful is the evening
A fresh and light breeze is blowing
Come to my quick little boat!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3465
Mamma mia dammi cento lire
Oh mother my mother give me one hundred liras
One of the many versions of this song. This should be a version from the very
Southern Italy (Calabria). This song was very popular in Italy during the period of
emigration to America (first years of the XX century). It is still well known here.
Please note that, at that time, the ship fare was about 100 lire! Recently, before the
introduction of the Euro currency, you needed 1500 liras to buy a subway ticket!
Mamma mia dammi cento lire
Mamma mamma lasciala andar
'Oh mother my mother give me one
hundred liras
'Oh mother mother let her go
E quando fu in mezzo al mare
che in America voglio andar
as I want to go to America'
Cento lire io te le do
'Yes I'll give you one hundred liras
Ma in America no, no, nooo
And when the ship was off shore
Il bastimento s'inaffondo'
It sunk
O pescatore tu che peschi l'onda
But you haven't to go to America'
You fisherman who are fishing among
the waves
E la sorella che si pettinava
Peschi pure la mia bionda
And the sister who was combing her
hair:
Please catch my blonde
Mamma mamma lasciala andar
'Oh mother mother let her go'
E il fratello alla finestra
And the brother at the window:
E se la pesco se non la pesco
And if I catch her or not
La balena se la mangio'
The whale swallowed her