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| The Glorious Bay of Naples, photo by New York Scugnizzo |
Nun se po’ ‘sta luntano
Di Pino Rispo
Aggia campá luntano
Ma nun ce ‘a faccio
Aggia sunná a te ‘o saccio
Ogne notte sí sempe chella
Tutt’’e notte sí unica e sempe bella
Quanta storie ‘ncuolle a te
‘A gente parlano male senza sapé
Sé sbagliava Francesco....
Ce sò rimaste ll’uocchie p’’e chiagnere...
Ma quanti ‘nfame
Ca fanno fint’’e niente
Ma quanne staje luntane...
Vulisse vulá ‘miez’’o viento
Quanne staje fora capisci..
Che tte manca…
Tanno ddato ‘nata storia
Pò he saputo chella vera
E liegge liegge e maje te stanca…
Pò tien’’a chille ca sò fedele
E te vonno ‘nu mar’’e bbene
Invece po’ chille ca venenen’’a fora
Pa’ priezza vulessene tuccá
‘Stu cielo cu’’e mmane....
Cara Napule...
Stá arrivann’’o ghiuorno
Tutte ‘nzieme avimme accunciá
Chesta storia
P’’e chest’’antica patria
Turnará ‘a gloria!!
One Can't Stay Far Away
By Pino Rispo
I have to live far away
But I can’t manage it
I have to dream of you I know
Every night you’re the one
Every night you’re unique and always beautiful
How many stories heaped on you
People speak ill without knowing
[King] Francis was wrong....
You’re eyes are left to cry...
But how many infamous people
Pretend nothing is wrong
But when you’re far away...
You’d like to fly through the air
When you’re abroad you understand...
What you miss…
They gave you another history
Then you learned the real one
And you read and read and never get tired...
Then you’ll have those who are faithful
And who wish you a sea of love
While those who come from abroad
For joy they’d like to touch
This sky with their hands....
Dear Naples...
The day is coming
All together we have to set this history
Right
For this ancient homeland
Glory shall return!!
Translated by Cav. Sant'Elia
* King Francis II of the Two Sicilies, upon going into exile in 1860 to end further bloodshed, famously observed the violence and ransacking against civilians that ensued, and said that the cruel new rulers who occupied his kingdom by force “will not even leave you your eyes to cry with”.
