Lyrics and translation Roberto Murolo - Raziella (XIX secolo)

Raziella (XIX secolo)

A core a core co Raziella mia
Stevo assettato a chillu pizzo llà
Lu patre asceva e schitto nc'era 'a zia
Ma, zittu zitto, se potea parlà
La zia filava e poco nce senteva
Ca, pe' lo suonno, la capa lle pennea
Io la manella de nenna mia pigliavo
Che non volea, ma se facea vasà

Essa cantava co chella bella voce
Lu mandolino io mme mettea a sonà
Essa dicea, cantanno doce doce:
"Aniello mio, io sempe t'aggi' 'a amà!"
La zia filava e poco nce senteva
E, pe' lo suonno, la capa lle pennea
Ma, si â 'ntrasatta, essa maje se scetava
Lu locco, subbeto, io mme mettevo a fà

Ma chillu tiempo comme priesto è passato!
Darria lo sango pe' farelo tornà
Tanno ero alliero e mo sò sbenturato
Schitto d'arraggio, 'e chianto aggi' 'a campà!
Raziella mia, Raziella mme 'ngannava
Mentre d'occhiate e squase mm'abbottava
Aje! Disperato tanto mme sò arredutto
Che o moro acciso o mm'aggi' 'a vennecà!

Raziella (19th century)

My heart to your heart, my Raziella
I wait on that hill over there
Your father has left, only your aunt is here
But hush, hush, we can speak
Your aunt is spinning and hardly hears us,
For sleep weighs down her head
I take in my hands that little hand of yours
Which you do not want me to kiss

She sings to that lovely voice,
I pluck at the strings of my mandolin,
She softly says, while singing:
"My Aniello, I will always love you!"
Your aunt is spinning and hardly hears us
And sleep weighs down her head
But if she stirs, you must awaken.
I shall act the madman at once

But how quickly that time has passed!
I would give my life to bring it back.
Then I was happy and now I am in despair
I can only live on tears and anger!
My Raziella, Raziella has betrayed me
While she cast me loving glances and nearly suffocated me with kisses.
Aie! I am in such despair
That I shall perish or avenge myself!