Lyrics and translation Carmen Consoli - 'A finestra

'A finestra

Sugnu sempri alla finestra e viru genti ca furria pà strada
Genti bedda, laria, allegra, mutriusa e siddiata
Genti arripudduta cu li gigghia isati e a vucca stritta
"Turi ho vogghia di quaccosa, un passabocca, un lemonsoda"
Iddu ci arrispunni: "Giusi, quannu ti chiamavi Giuseppina, eri licca pà broscia cà granita"
"Turi tu n'ha fattu strada e ora che sei grosso imprenditori, t'ha 'nsignari a classi 'nt' parrari"

Sugnu sempre alla finestra e viru genti spacinnata
Sduvacata 'nte panchini di la piazza, stuta e adduma a sigaretta
Gente ca s'ancontra e dici "Ciao" cu na taliata
Genti ca s'allasca, genti ca s'abbrazza e poi si vasa
Genti ca sa fa stringennu a cinghia, si strapazza e non si pinna
Annunca st'autru 'nvernu non si canta missa
Genti ca sa fa 'lliccannu a sadda
Ma ci fa truvari a tavula cunsata a cu cumanna

Chi ci aviti di taliari, 'un aviti autru a cui pinsari
Almeno un pocu di chiffari
"Itavinni a travagghiari" vannia 'n vecchiu indispettitu
"Avemu u picciu arreri o vitru"
Jù ci dicu "M'ha scusari, chista è la me casa e staju unni mi pare"

La domenica mattina dagli altoparlanti della chiesa
A vuci 'I Patri Coppola n'antrona I casi, trasi dintra l'ossa
"Piccaturi rinunciati a quei piccati di la carni quannu u riavulu s'affaccia rafforzatevi a mutanna"
Quannu attagghiu di la chiesa si posteggia un machinone
Scinni Saro Branchia detto Re Leone
Patri Coppola balbetta e ammogghia l'omelia cu tri paroli
Picchì sua Maestà s'ha fari a comunioni

Chi ci aviti di taliari, 'un aviti autru a cui pinsari
Almeno un pocu di chiffari
"Itavinni un pocu a mari", vannia un vecchiu tintu
"Accussì janca mi pariti 'n spiddu"
Jù ci dicu "M'ha scusari, picchì hati a stari ccà sutta a me casa pà 'nsultari"

Sugnu sempri alla finestra e viru a ranni civiltà
Ca ha statu, nove Turchi, Ebrei e Cristiani si stringeunu la manu
Tannu si pinsava ca "La diversità è ricchezza"
Tempi di biddizza, di puisia, d'amuri e di saggezza
Zoccu ha statu aieri, oggi forsi ca putissi riturnari
Si truvamu semi boni di chiantari
'Nta sta terra 'I focu e mari oggi sentu ca mi parra u cori
E dici ca li cosi stannu pì canciari

Chi ci aviti di taliari 'un aviti autru a cui pinsari
Almeno un poco di chiffari
Itavinni a ballari, ittati quattru sauti e nisciti giustu pì sbariari
Jù ci dicu "Cù piaciri, c'è qualchi danza streusa ca vuliti cunsigghiari?"

'A finestra

I am always at the window and I see people hurrying in the street
Beautiful, cheerful, curious and thirsty people
Thirsty people with dry lilies and tight mouths
"Tony I want something, a snack, a lemonade"
He answers her: "Josie, when you were called Josephine, you liked the ice cream with the granita"
"Tony you have come a long way and now that you are a big entrepreneur, you have learned to speak with class"

I am always at the window and I see exhausted people
Slouching on the benches in the square, tired and smoking cigarettes
People who meet and say "Hello" with a look
People who tease each other, people who hug each other and then kiss each other
People who know how to tighten their belts, who work hard and do not complain
They announce that this other winter there will be no mass
People who make do by licking the salt
But they make us find the table set by the one who commands

What do you have to look at, don't you have anything else to think about?
At least a little gossip
"Go to work" says an annoyed old man
"We have the money behind the glass"
I tell her "Excuse me, this is my house and I stay where I want"

On Sunday morning from the loudspeakers of the church
Father Coppola's voice enters the houses, enters the bones
"Sinners renounce those sins of the flesh when the devil shows up, strengthen your underpants"
When I leave the church, a big car parks
Saro Branchia, known as King Lion, descends
Father Coppola stammers and mumbles the homily with three words
Because His Majesty has to take communion

What do you have to look at, don't you have anything else to think about?
At least a little gossip
"Go to the sea for a while," says a dyed old man
"That way you'll look even whiter on a spit"
I tell her "Excuse me, why do you have to stay here under my house to insult me"

I am always at the window and I see the great civilization
That was, nine Turks, Jews and Christians shake hands
Then we thought that "Diversity is wealth"
Times of beauty, of poetry, of love and of wisdom
What was yesterday, today perhaps could return
If we find good seeds to plant
In this land of fire and sea today I feel my heart speaking to me
And says that things are about to change

What do you have to look at, don't you have anything else to think about?
At least a little gossip
Go and dance, do four jumps and go out just to have fun
I tell her "With pleasure, is there any particular dance you want to suggest?"