Paroles et traduction Francesco De Gregori - Scacchi e tarocchi

Scacchi e tarocchi

Venivano da lontano, avevano occhi e cani
Avevano stellette e guanti
E paura

Erano tre, erano quattro, erano più di ventiquattro
Erano il sale della terra
Erano il fuoco e la guerra

Erano il segno della croce, erano cani senza voce
Erano denti
Erano denti senza bocca, erano un fuoco che scotta
Erano la vita che rintocca

Erano tre, erano quattro, avevano sassi
Avevano cuori
Avevano parrucche e occhiali, e pistole a tamburi
E silenziatori

Avevano linguaggio e chitarre e da dietro le sbarre ridevano
E pure parlavano

Avevano, alcuni, moglie e figli che da dietro un vetro, adesso
Li salutavano

Avevano certo dei mandanti ed erano tanti
Senza né viso né storie
E senza prove
Alcuni sapevano tutto e tutto ricordavano e andavano
Ma non dicevano dove

Altri giuravano e spergiuravano, e tutto confessavano
Nome e cognome
Tutti sapevano tutto di tutti, perfino il numero
Ma non dicevano come

Venivano da lontano, avevano occhi e cani
Avevano stellette e guanti
E paura

Erano tre, erano quattro, erano più di ventiquattro
Erano dieci
O diecimila

Erano bocca e occhi, scacchi e tarocchi
Erano occhi e brace
Erano giovani e forti, erano giovani vite
Dentro una fornace

Chess and Tarot

They came from afar, with dogs and eyes
With stars and gloves
And fear

They were three, they were four, they were more than twenty-four
They were the salt of the earth
They were fire and war

They were the sign of the cross, dogs without a voice
They were teeth
They were teeth without a mouth, a burning fire
They were life ringing

They were three, they were four, with stones
With hearts
With wigs and glasses, and drum pistols
And silencers

They had language and guitars, and from behind bars they laughed
And they even talked

Some had wives and children, who from behind a glass
Now greeted them

They certainly had sponsors, and there were many
Without a face or a story
And without proof
Some knew everything and remembered everything, and went
But they didn't say where

Others swore and swore falsely, and confessed everything
Name and surname
Everyone knew everything about everyone, even the number
But they didn't say how

They came from afar, with dogs and eyes
With stars and gloves
And fear

They were three, they were four, they were more than twenty-four
They were ten
Or ten thousand

They were mouth and eyes, chess and tarot
They were eyes and embers
They were young and strong, they were young lives
In a furnace