Lyrics with English translations of selected tracks from Mario!, Lanza's acclaimed 1958 album of classic Neapolitan songs are below.
Note: The best "official" reproductions of these recordings on CD are found on the 2006 RCA SACD (Super Audio CD) Mario! Lanza At His Best. (The disc is no longer being made, but a non-SACD version is available as a downloadable MP3.) This CD should not be confused with the poorly reproduced (but readily available) 1999 release of the same title. Other recommended sources are the 2015 Sepia Records CD Mario Lanza: My Italian Souland the 2020 Sepia CD Mario Lanza: Classics, which includes four of the album's highlights. ("Passione" is especially well reproduced.) Sepia uses remastered vinyl for a gloriously mellow sound.
Dicitencello Vuie (Fusco-Falvo) Just Tell Her
Dicitencello a 'sta cumpagna vosta Tell her – tell that friend of yours ch'aggio perduto 'o suonno e 'a fantasia... That I’ve been losing sleep and my mind’s a blank ch''a penzo sempe, Say I’m always thinking about her ch'è tutt''a vita mia... That she’s my whole life… I' nce 'o vvulesse dicere, I’d like to tell her, ma nun ce 'o ssaccio dí... But I don’t know how to say…
'A voglio bene... That I love her 'A voglio bene assaje! I love her very much! Dicitencello vuje You tell her the truth ca nun mm''a scordo maje. That I’ll never forget her E' na passione, It’s a passion cchiù forte 'e na catena, stronger than chains, ca mme turmenta ll'anema... It torments my soul… e nun mme fa campá!... And I can’t go on.
Na lácrema lucente v'è caduta... A glistening tear slid down your cheek dicíteme nu poco: a che penzate?! Tell me – what goes through your mind? Cu st'uocchie doce, Such sweet eyes, vuje sola mme guardate... Are yours and yours alone Levámmoce 'sta maschera, Let’s get rid of this mask dicimmo 'a veritá... And tell the truth…
Te voglio bene... I love you… Te voglio bene assaje... I really love you… Si' tu chesta catena You are these chains ca nun se spezza maje! That will never break!
Suonno gentile, A soft sound, suspiro mio carnale... My senses sigh Te cerco comm'a ll'aria: I need you like the air I breathe: Te voglio pe' campá!... I need you to go on!
Maria Mari’ (Di Capua-Russo)
Arápete fenesta! Open the window! Famme affacciá a Maria, And let Maria look out, ca stóngo 'mmiez'â via... I’m standing here in the middle of the road… speruto d''a vedé... Desperate to see her… Nun trovo n'ora 'e pace: I can’t get an hour’s peace: 'a notte 'a faccio juorno, The night’s the same as the day to me, sempe pe' stá ccá attuorno, Always hanging around here, speranno 'e ce parlá! Hoping to talk to her! Oje Marí', oje Marí', Oh Marie, oh Marie, quanta suonno ca perdo pe' te! How much sleep I lose for you Famme addurmí, Just let me fall asleep, abbracciato nu poco cu te! Hugging you for a while! Oje Marí', oje Marí'! Oh Marie, oh Marie! Quanta suonno ca perdo pe' te! How much sleep I lose for you! Famme addurmí... Just let me fall asleep… oje Marí', oje Marí'! Oh Marie, oh Marie! Pare che giá s'arape Now it looks like na sénga 'e fenestella... One of the window shutters is opening… Maria cu 'a manella, Marie puts out her hand, nu segno a me mme fa! And waves to me! Sòna chitarra mia! I play on my guitar! Maria s'è scetata!... Na scicca serenata, facímmole sentí: Oje Marí', oje Marí', ecc Oh Marie, oh Marie, etc
Voce 'e Notte (Russo-De Curtis) Voice in the night
Si 'sta voce te sceta ‘int'a nuttata, If this voice wakes you in the night Mentre t'astringe ‘o sposo tuio vicino, While the man at your side is holding you Statte scetata, si vuo sta scetata, Stay awake if you want to stay awake Ma fa vede ca duorme a suonno chino. But pretend that you're fast asleep.
Nun gghi vicino'e llastre pe' ffa' spia, Don't go to the window to see who's there Pecche nun puo sbaglia: ‘sta voce e'e mia… Because you can't mistake it – that voice is mine… E'a stessa voce ‘e quanno tutt'e dduie The same voice as when we both Scurnuse, nce parlavamo c'o "vvuie". Were strangers, and both so formal with each other.
Si 'sta voce, che chiagn'int' `a nuttata If this voice crying into the night Te sceta'o sposo, nun ave paura, Wakes your man, don't be afraid Vide ch'e senza nomme'a sserenata… Because there are no names in my serenade… Dille ca dorme e ca se rassicura… Tell him to sleep, that everything's all right.
Dille accussi: "Chi canta ‘inta ‘sta via Tell him: "Whoever is singing down in the street O sarra pazzo o more'e ggelusia Is either crazy or dying of jealousy Starra chiagneno quacce `nfamita He's probably crying over some betrayal, Canta isso sulo. Ma che canta a ffa?" He sings alone. But what's he singing for?”
’O Surdato ’Nnamurato (Califano - Cannio) The Soldier in Love Staje luntana da stu core, You are far from my heart a te volo cu 'o penziero And I fly to you in my thoughts niente voglio e niente spero I want nothing, and I hope for nothing ca tenerte sempe a fianco a me! But to have you near me forever! Si' sicura 'e chist'ammore Be sure of this lovecomm'i' só' sicuro 'e te... as I am sure of you…
Oje vita, oje vita mia... Oh life, oh my life… oje core 'e chistu core... Oh heart, oh this heart si' stata 'o primmo ammore... You were my first love e 'o primmo e ll'ùrdemo sarraje pe' me! My first, and you will be my last! Scrive sempe e sta' cuntenta: I always write saying you should be happy io nun penzo che a te sola... I only think of you… Nu penziero mme cunzola, And one thought consoles me, ca tu pienze sulamente a me... That you only think of me… 'A cchiù bella 'e tutt''e bbelle The most beautiful of beautiful women nun è maje cchiù bella 'e te! is not nearly as beautiful as you!
Oje vita, oje vita mia... Oh life, oh my life… oje core 'e chistu core... Oh heart, oh this heartsi' stata 'o primmo ammore... You were my first love e 'o primmo e ll'ùrdemo sarraje pe' me! My first, and you will be my last!
Passione (Tagliaferri/Valente) Passion Cchiù luntana mme staje, The further from me you are cchiù vicina te sento... The closer to you I feel… Chisà a chistu mumento Who knows in this moment tu a che pienze...che faje!... what you’re thinking…what you’re doing! Tu m’e’ miso 'int''e vvene, You’ve poured into my veins nu veleno ch'è doce... a sweet poison Comme pesa 'sta croce How heavy is this crossca trascino pe' te!... that I bear for you!… Te voglio...te penzo...te chiammo... I want you…I think of you…I call you… te veco...te sento...te sonno... I see you, I hear you, I dream of you… E' n'anno, ‘nce pienze ch'è n'anno Just think – it’s been a year, a whole year ca stu’occhie nun ponno cchiù pace truvà!... That these eyes have known no peace! E cammino, cammino... And I walk and walk ma nun saccio addo' vaco... But I don’t know where I’m going… I' sto' sempe 'mbriaco I’m always drunk e nun bevo maje vino… though I never drink wine... Aggio fatto nu vuto I’ve made a vow a’ Madonna d''a neve: to Our Lady of the Snow si mme passa 'sta freve, that if this fever passes oro e perle lle do'... I’ll offer her gold and pearls… Te voglio...te penzo...te chiammo... I want you…I think of you…I call you… te veco...te sento...te sonno... I see you…I hear you…I dream of you… E' n'anno, ‘nce pienze ch'è n'anno Just think – it’s been a year, a whole year ca stu’occhie nun ponno cchiù pace truvà!... That these eyes have known no peace!
Santa Lucia Luntana (E.A. Mario) Santa Lucia Far Away Partono 'e bastimente The boats are leaving p' 'e terre assaje luntane, For far away lands cantano a buordo e so' napulitane! On board they sing, “I’m a Neapolitan!” Cantano pe' tramente They sing while in the sunset 'o golfo già scompare, the bay disappears, e 'a luna, 'a miez' 'o mare, and as the half-moon of the sea 'nu poco 'e Napule lle fa vede'. still reveals a little of Naples.
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia luntano 'a te quanta malincunia! How sad it is to be so far from you! Se gira 'o munno sano, One circles the world se va a cerca' furtuna, One seeks one’s fortune ma quanno sponta 'a luna But when the moon rises luntano a Napule Far from Naples nun se po' sta! One cannot stay away! Santa Lucia tu tiene Santa Lucia, yours is solo 'nu poco 'e mare, Only a little sea, ma cchiù luntana staie, cchiù bella pare! But the longer I stay away, the more beautiful you are! È 'o canto d' 'e Ssirene It is like the song of the sirens ca tesse ancora 'e rezze, That are still casting their net core, nun vo' ricchezze: My heart doesn’t want riches: si è nato a Napule If it was born in Naples, ce vo' muri'! it wants to die there! Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia luntano 'a te quanta malincunia! How sad it is to be so far from you! Se gira 'o munno sano, One circles the world se va a cerca' furtuna, One seeks one’s fortune ma quanno sponta 'a luna But when the moon rises luntano a Napule Far from Naples nun se po' sta! One cannot stay away!
Fenesta che Lucive (Cottrau-Paolella) The Window that Used to shine
Fenesta che lucive e mo nun luce... The once-lit window, now dark… sign'è ca nénna mia stace malata... means that my sweetheart is ill… S'affaccia la surella e mme lu dice: Her sister looks out and tells me: Nennélla toja è morta e s'è atterrata... Your sweetheart is dead and buried…
Chiagneva sempe ca durmeva sola, She once complained that she slept alone, mo dorme co' li muorte accompagnata... Now she sleeps in the company of the dead…
Va' dint''a cchiesa, e scuopre lu tavuto: Go to the church, and look into her coffin vide nennélla toja comm'è tornata... See how your sweetheart is now… Da chella vocca ca n'ascéano sciure, From the mouth that once came words of love, mo n'esceno li vierme...Oh! che piatate! But now only worms…Oh! What sadness!
Zi' parrocchiano mio, ábbece cura: Priest: take care of my little one: na lampa sempe tienece allummata... always keep a lamp lit by her…
Tu Ca Nun Chiagne! (E. de Curtis) You Who Do Not Cry!
Comm'è bella 'a muntagna stanotte... How beautiful the mountain is tonight… bella accussí, nun ll'aggio vista maje! I have never seen it more lovely! N'ánema pare, rassignata e stanca, It looks like a resigned and tired soul sott''a cuperta 'e chesta luna janca... under the cover of this white moon.
Tu ca nun chiagne e chiágnere mme faje, You who do not cry and make me cry, tu, stanotte, addó' staje? where are you tonight? Voglio a te! I want you!Voglio a te! I want you!Chist'uocchie te vonno, See how these eyes want youn'ata vota, vedé! one more time!
Comm'è calma 'a muntagna stanotte... How calm the moon is tonight… cchiù calma 'e mo, nun ll'aggio vista maje! calmer than I have ever seen it before!
E tutto dorme, tutto dorme o more, And everything sleeps, everything sleeps or dies. e i' sulo veglio, pecché veglia Ammore... Only I am awake, because Love is awake!
Tu ca nun chiagne e chiágnere mme faje, You who do not cry and make me cry, tu, stanotte, addó' staje? where are you tonight? Voglio a te! I want you!Voglio a te! I want you!Chist'uocchie te vonno, See how these eyes want youn'ata vota, vedé! one more time!
Na Sera ’e Maggio (Cioffi) One Evening in May
Quanno vien'a 'appuntamento Whenever we meet guarde 'o mare, guard''e ffronne, You look at the sea, at the leaves, si te parlo nun rispunne, If I speak to you, you don’t respond, staje distratta comm'a che. You are very distracted. Io te tengo dint''o core, I have you in my heart, songo sempe 'nnammurato I am still in love with you, ma tu, invece, pienze a n'ato But you, instead, think about someone else e te staje scurdanno 'e me... And you are forgetting about me…
Quanno se dice: "Si’" When one has said “Yes,” tienelo a mente... You must remember… Nun s'ha da fa muri’ nu core amante... One should not cause another heart to die… Tu mme diciste: "Si" na sera 'e maggio... You said to me “Yes,” one evening in May… e mo tiene 'o curaggio 'e mme lassa’! And now you have the courage to leave me!
St'uocchie tuoje nun so’ sincere I don’t know if those eyes of yours are sincere comm'a quanno mme 'ncuntraste, As they were when you met me, comm'a quanno mme diciste: When you told me: "Voglio bene sulo a te..." “I love only you…” E tremmanno mme giuraste, And trembling you swore to me, cu na mano 'ncopp''o core: With your hand on your heart: "Nun se scorda 'o primmo ammore!..." “One doesn’t forget one’s first love!…” Mo te staje scurdanno 'e me... But now you are forgetting me…
Quanno se dice: "Si’" When one has said “Yes,” tienelo a mente... You must remember Nun s'ha da fa muri’ nu core amante... One should not cause another heart to die Tu mme diciste: "Si" na sera 'e maggio... You said to me “Yes,” one evening in May… e mo tiene 'o curaggio 'e mme lassa’! And now you have the courage to leave me!
Lanza in late 1958, a few weeks before recording the "Mario!" album
This 2015 CD contains the highlights of both the "Mario!" album and the 1959 "Mario Lanza Sings Caruso Favorites"
Comme Facette Mammeta? (Gambardella) How Did Your Mother Make You?
Quanno mammeta t'ha fatta When your mother made you Quanno mammeta t'ha fatta When your mother made you Vuo' sape comme facette? Do you know what she did? Vuo' sape comme facette? Do you know what she did?
Pe' 'mpasta sti ccarne belle To cook up this nice dish Pe' 'mpasta sti ccarne belle To cook up this nice dish Tutto chello ca mettatte? What did she put in it? Tutto chello ca mettatte? What did she put in it?
Ciento rose 'ncappucciate A hundred rosebuds Dint' a martula mmescate She mixed with a mortar Latte, rose, rose e latte Milk and roses, roses and milk Te Facette 'ncoppo fatto! She whisked you up in the blink of an eye!
Nun c'e bisogno 'a zingara It doesn't take a gypsy P'andivina, Cunce' To figure it out, Cunce' Comme t'ha fatto mammeta Just how mother made you 'o ssaccio meglio 'e te! I know better than you!
E pe' fa 'sta vocca bella And to make that lovely mouth E pe' fa 'sta vocca bella And to make that lovely mouth Nun servette 'a stessa dose There were other things she added Nun servette 'a stessa dose There were other things she added
Vuo' sape che nce mettette? Want to know what she put in? Vuo' sape che nce mettette? Want to know what she put in? Mo te dico tuttecosa Now I'll tell you all Mo to dico tuttecosa Now I'll tell you all
Nu panaro chino, chino A basket filled to the brim Tutt' e fravule 'e ciardino With all the strawberries in the garden Mele, zuccaro e cannella: Apples, sugar and cinnamon Te 'mpastaje 'sta vocca bella To make that lovely mouth
Nun c'e bisogno 'a zingara It doesn't take a gypsy P'andivina, Cunce' To figure it out, Cunce' Comme t'ha fatto mammeta Just how mother made you 'o ssaccio meglio 'e te! I know better than you!
Canta Pe’ Me! (E. de Curtis)
Canta pe' me, stanotte, na canzone, tu ca si' bella e tiene 'a voce d'oro... Cantammella stanotte, ca si moro, moro sentenno na bella canzone...
Canta na serenata 'e marenare... ch''a tantu tiempo nun se canta cchiu.. Mare!...Stanotte, quanta varche a mare... ma tu nun cante? Ma a che pienze tu?
II
Canta: ca i' t'accumpagno cu 'a chitarra, chissa stanotte, nun se sceta 'ammore, ll'ammore sfurtunato e cantatore ca niente vo’: nu core e na chitarra...
Canta, cai bella Napule addurmuta, c nola d'oro pe' chi v? sunn?.. Ma tu che pienze sulitaria e muta? Ma tu ch'aspiette ca nun vuò cantà?
Sing for Me! Sing a song for me tonight, You so beautiful with the golden voice Sing it to me tonight, so if I die I die listening to a beautiful song…
Sing a sailor’s serenade… That hasn’t been sung for a long time… The sea! So many ships at sea tonight… But why aren’t you singing? What are you thinking?
Sing: that I may accompany you on the guitar, who knows that tonight one doesn’t awaken love, unlucky love and a singer who wants nothing: one heart and a guitar…
Sing, what a beautiful sleeping Naples, cradle of gold for one who wants to dream But what are you thinking – so solitary and silent? But what are you waiting for if you don’t want to sing?
