Lyrics and translation Mario Merola - Carcerato

Carcerato

Pagliariccio e cancella
Chesta è 'a vita 'e chi 'ncarcere sta
Pe' 'na femmena bella
Aggio perzo pur' j 'a libertà

Tengo a mamma malata
Ca me chiamme e m'aspetta
E io ca sto carcerato
Nun 'a pozzo salvà

Io stongo carcerato
E mamma more
Voglio murì pur' io
Primma 'e stasera

Oj carceriere mio, oj carceriere
Famme 'na carità:
Famme vasà a mammà!

Io nun so' delinquente,
Ma ll'onore nun m'hanna tuccà

Mamma mia nun me sente,
Ma capisce pecché stongo ccà

Tutte 'e notte m' 'a sonno
E lle cerco perdono
Sto preganno 'a Madonna
Ca puttess salvà

Io stongo carcerato
E mamma more

Oj carceriere mio, oj carceriere
Famme 'na carità:
Famme vasà a mammà!

Io stongo carcerato
E mamma more

Prisoner

Straw mattress and iron bars
This is the life of one in prison
For a beautiful woman
I have even lost my freedom

I have a sick mother
Who calls to me and waits for me
And I, who am imprisoned
Cannot save her

I am imprisoned
And mother is dying
I want to die too
Before tonight

Oh, my prison guard, oh, my prison guard
Do me a favor:
Let me kiss my mother!

I am not a criminal,
But my honor must be untouched

My mother doesn't hear me,
But she understands why I am here

Every night I dream of her
And I seek her forgiveness
I am praying to the Madonna
That she may save her

I am imprisoned
And mother is dying

Oh, my prison guard, oh, my prison guard
Do me a favor:
Let me kiss my mother!

I am imprisoned
And mother is dying