Paroles et traduction Mario Merola - Qui fu Napoli

Qui fu Napoli

Va cu'tté 'stu core amato
Pe' 'sta via ca porta a mare.
Llà sta Napule allummato.
Mo ca scinne chesti ggrare
Vide 'o mare accumparé.
Spanne ll'aria nu sapore
D'erba 'e scoglie e de magnà'.
Na cantina 'e piscatore tene
'O lume pronto già.
Fuoco e zuccaro 'o mellone,
Ce stennimmo 'nterr'â rena.
Neve 'e 'sprinia1 'int' 'o giarrone,
'Ncielo 'e stelle e 'a luna chiena.
E io canto: "Qui fu Napoli".
Nisciuno è meglio 'e me.
Dimane penzo ê diebbete,
Stasera só' nu rre.
Sentarraje 'ncopp'a la rena
Voce a stesa 'e marenare:
"Tira, ohé, ch' 'a rezza vène".
"Forza, ohé, ch'aónna 'o mare".
"Tira, arranca, venga a me".
Cu chitarre e lume a giorno
Na varchetta passa e va.
Rossa e verde è ll'acqua attuorno,
Tu nun mange pe' guardà.
E i' te vaso 'sta vucchella
Cu cchiù sfizio e passione.
'Sta vucchella sciuliarella
'Nfosa 'e vino e de mellone.
E io canto:"Qui fu Napoli".
Vintun'ore, ccà vicino,
Nu rilorgio ll'ora sona.
Forse è 'ammore, forse è 'o vino.
'Sta faccella s'abbandona,
Tu t'adduorme 'mbracci'a me.
Pe' cuperta tiene 'e stelle,
Pe' cuscino chistu core.
Nonna, nonna a st'uocchie belle
Só' sti vvoce 'e piscatore.
Dint' 'o suonno, smaniosa,
Mo mme vuó', mo mme ne cacce.
Po' te scite e, vrucculosa,
T'annascunne 'int'a sti bbracce.
E io canto: "Qui fu Napoli".

It Was Naples

Take this beloved heart of mine
Along this path that leads to the sea.
There lies Naples ablaze.
Now as we descend these steps
Watch as the sea appears.
The air is filled with the scent of
Saltwater and seafood.
A fisherman's tavern awaits us
With its light already on.
Fire and sugary melon,
We'll spread out on the sand.
Almond snow1 on the lemon tree,
A sky full of stars and a full moon.
And I sing: "It was Naples".
No one is better than me.
Tomorrow I'll worry about my debts,
Tonight I am a king.
I'll sit on the sand
And hear the boatmen's voices:
"Pull, ohé, the net is coming".
"Row, ohé, while the sea is calm".
"Pull, row, come to me".
With guitars and lanterns lit
A small boat passes by.
The water around it is red and green,
You don't eat so you can watch it.
And I kiss your sweet mouth
With more passion and desire.
Your mouth is a beautiful flower
With the taste of wine and melon.
And I sing: "It was Naples".
At twenty-one o'clock,
A nearby clock strikes the hour.
Perhaps it's love, perhaps it's the wine.
My face relaxes,
You fall asleep in my arms.
The stars are your blanket,
This heart your pillow.
Grandmother, grandmother to these beautiful eyes
Are these fishermen's voices.
In my sleep, and troubled,
Now you desire me, now you reject me.
Then you awaken and, shamelessly,
You hide in these arms.
And I sing: "It was Naples".