Lyrics and translation Mario Merola - Lacrime napulitane

Lacrime napulitane

Mia cara madre
Sta pe' trasi' natale
E a sta' luntano chiu'
Me sape amaro
Comme vurria appiccia'
Duje tre biancal
Comme vurria senti' nu zampugnaro

'E ninne mie facitele 'o presepio
E a tavola mettite 'o piatto mio
Facite quanno è a sera da' vigilia
Comme si' mmiezo a vuje
Stesse pur' io

E 'nce ne costa lacreme st' america
A nuje napulitane
Pe' nuie ca 'nce chiagnimmo
O cielo e napule
Comme è amaro stu' pane

Mia cara madre che sso'
Che sso' 'e denare?
Pe' chi se chiagne a patria
Nun so' niente
Mo tengo quacche dollaro e me pare
Ca nun so' stato maie tanto pezzente
Me sonno tutt 'e notte a casa mia
E d"e criature meie ne sento 'a voce

Ma a vuie ve sonno comm 'a na' maria
Cu 'e spade 'mpietto
'Nnanz 'o figlio 'ncroce

E 'nce ne costa lacreme st' america
A nuje napulitane
Pe' nuje ca 'nce chiagnimmo
'O cielo e napule
Comm' è amaro stu' pane

M'avite scritto
Che assuntulella chiamma
Chi l'ha lassata
Sta' luntana ancora

Che v'aggia di'
Che v'aggia di'
Si 'e figlie vonno 'a mamma
Facitela turna' a chella signora
Io no nun torno me ne resto fore
E resto a fatica' pe tutte quante

Jo c'aggio perzo a casa patria e onore
Io so' carne 'e maciello so' emigrante
E 'nce ne costa lacreme st' america
A nuje napulitane
Pe' nuje ca 'nce chiagnimmo
'O cielo e napule
Comme è amaro stu pane

Lacrime napulitane

My dearest mother
Christmas is almost here
And I'll be far away again
It makes me sad
How I wish I could light
Two or three candles
How I wish I could listen to a bagpiper

My children make a crib for me
And set a place for me at the table
Do it on Christmas Eve
As if I were right there with you
Me too

And it costs us tears this America
To us Neapolitans
As we cry over it
The sky in Naples
How bitter this bread i

My dearest mother, what are
What is money?
For those who weep for their homeland
It's nothing
Now I have a few dollars, and it seems to me
That I've never been so poor
I long all night for my home
And I can hear my children's voices

But to you I am like a Mary
With a sword in her heart
Before her crucified son

And it costs us tears this America
To us Neapolitans
As we cry over it
The sky in Naples
How bitter this bread is

You wrote to me
That little Assunta is crying
Who left her
Is still far away

What can I tell you?
What can I tell you?
If the children want their mother
Have that lady return
I will not return, I will stay away
And I will continue to work for all of you

I have lost my home, my country, and my honor
I am like a beast of burden, I am an emigrant
And it costs us tears this America
To us Neapolitans
As we cry over it
The sky in Naples
How bitter this bread is