Loredana Brega from Piazza Serchio was in Barga Vecchia this afternoon keeping the regulars of Da Aristo bar entertained with a series of classic Italian songs on both keyboard and guitar
Caruso (Te voglio bene assai) – LYRICS & TRANSLATION-The original version was written by Lucio Dalla, who dedicated this song to Enrico Caruso, an italian famous tenor, after a visit to Sorrento (Italy) and have been impressed by the beauty of this city.
Lucio Dalla visited the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, where Caruso spent the last two months of his life and where he kept intact his books, his photographs and his piano.
Angelo, who had a bar in the port told this story … Caruso was ill with throat cancer and he knew those were his last days… but that didn´t prevent him from giving singing lessons to a young girl with whom he loved. It was a hot night and he would not give up singing for her looking at him with admiration, so he brought the piano to the terrace overlooking the port and began to sing a passionate declaration of love and suffering. His voice was strong and the fishermen, hearing, returned to port and remained anchored on the terrace. The lights of the boats were so many that looked like stars … Caruso did not lose the strength and continued singing sinking in the most beautiful green eyes of the girl leaning against the piano. That night his condition worsened. Two days later, on August 2, 1921, Caruso died in Naples. This song narrates the drama of that night … with lights and shadows of the past … with death and life …a sick man who looks in the eyes of the girl a future that no longer exists …a testament of love …a declaration of love… this was his last concert … and had the most exceptional public … the sea, the stars in the sky, fishermen, the lights of the boats, and his beloved girl…
CARUSO – LYRICS
Qui dove il mare luccica
e tira forte il vento
su una vecchia terrazza
davanti al golfo di Surriento
un uomo abbraccia una ragazza
dopo che aveva pianto
poi si schiarisce la voce
e ricomincia il canto.
Te voglio bene assaie
ma tanto tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai
che scioglie il sangue dint’e vene sai
Vide le luci in mezzo al mare
pensò alle notti là in America
ma erano solo le lampare
e la bianca scia di un’ elica.
Sentì il dolore nella musica,
si alzò dal pianoforte
ma quando vide la luna uscire da una nuvola
gli sembrò dolce anche la morte.
Guardò negli occhi la ragazza,
quegli occhi verdi come il mare,
poi all’improvviso uscì una lacrima
e lui credette di affogare.
Te voglio bene assaie
ma tanto tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai
che scioglie il sangue dint’e vene sai.
Potenza della lirica
dove ogni dramma è un falso
che con un po’ di trucco e con la mimica
puoi diventare un altro.
Ma due occhi che ti guardano
così vicini e veri
ti fan scordare le parole,
confondono i pensieri.
Così diventa tutto piccolo,
anche le notti là in America,
ti volti e vedi la tua vita
come la scia di un’elica.
Ma sì, è la vita che finisce,
ma lui non ci pensò poi tanto
anzi si sentiva già felice
e ricominciò il suo canto.
Te voglio bene assaie
ma tanto tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai
che scioglie il sangue dint’e vene sai
LYRICS TRANSLATION
Here, where the sea shines
and the wind howls,
on the old terrace beside the gulf of Sorrento,
a man embraces a girl
he wept after,
then clears his throat and continues the song:
I love you very much,
very, very much, you know;
it is a chain by now
that melts the blood inside the veins, you know…
He saw the lights out on the sea,
thought of the nights there in America,
but they were only the fishermen’s lamps
and the white wash astern.
He felt the pain in the music
and stood up from the piano,
but when he saw the moon emerging from a cloud
death also seemed sweeter to him.
He looked the girl in the eyes,
those eyes as green as the sea.
Then suddenly a tear fell
and he believed he was drowning
I love you very much,
very, very much, you know,
it is a chain by now
that melts the blood inside the vein you know…
The power of opera,
where every drama is a hoax;
with a little make-up and with mime
you can become someone else.
But two eyes that look at you,
so close and real,
make you forget the words,
confuse your thoughts,
So everything became small,
also the nights there in America.
You turn and see your life
through the white wash astern.
But, yes, it is life that ends
and he did not think so much about it
on the contrary, he already felt happy
and continued his song:
I love you very much,
very, very much, you know,
it is a chain by now
that melts the blood inside the veins, you know…
I love you very much,
very, very much, you know,
it is a chain by now
that melts the blood inside the veins, you know…
