“Tarantella luciana”
Ma chest'evera e mare
Comme addora stasera
Tutt'o munno me pare
Cchiù schitto e cchiù allero
Nun saccio 'o pecchè
Viene a cca Luciana
Tu che ancora 'a spatella
Puorte dint'e capille
Si 'a femmena bella
Ca 'i voglio vedè
Sta tarantella napolitana
'Nzieme a te Luciana
Ca si guappa e si bella
Cu li tamorre
Cu'e castagnelle
Sott'a ll'nocchie d'e stele
Stu core c'abballa
Vulesse abballà
Aggio fatto nu pigno,
ma cu gusto e piacere:
si stasera mme 'ngigno,
mm'aspetta ll'onore
ch'abballe cu me...
Mm'appresento cu'o tubbo,
cu 'o cazone a campana,
cu 'o rilorgio e 'a catena
ma tu, Luciana,
mm'hi 'a fa' cumpari'...
'Sta tarantella napulitana
…………………
Nun sentite 'a campana?!...
Ne!...Menatela 'a rezza!
E, pa gente luntana,
ca voca e sollazza,
vulite prija'?!...
Ma chi e' chisto ch'abballa:
"Tarante'...Tarantella?"
Ride, Napule bella,
ca e' Pulecenella
ca torna, e sta cca'!
'Sta tarantella napulitana
………………………………
But this seaweed
how smells tonight
All the world looks to me
plainer and happier
and I don’t know why
come here Luciana
you that still wear
hairpin in your hair
you are the beautiful woman
that I want to see
This neapolitan tarantella
together to you Luciana
that are stout and beautiful
with the tambourines
with the castanets
under the stars gaze
this heart that is dancing
likes to dance
I pawned
but willingly and with pleasure
if tonight I dress up
I’ll have the honour
to dance with you…
I’ll come with topper
with bell-bottoms,
with fob watch
but you Luciana
have to let me make the right impression
This neapolitan tarantella
……………………..
Aren’t you hearing the bells?
Come on… cast the net!
And for people far away
that call and enjoy
do you want pray for?
But who is this one dancing:
“Tarantè… Tarantella?”
Smile beautiful Naples
that is Punchinello
coming back and is here!
This neapolitan tarantella
…………………………….
(Note that in the translated lyrics the rhymes are missing, of course)