Girish Mahajan (Editor)

’O surdato ’nnammurato

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’O surdato ’nnammurato ([o surˈdɑːtə nːamːuˈrɑːtə]; in English: "The Soldier in Love") is a famous song written in the Neapolitan language. The song is used as the anthem of S.S.C. Napoli.

Contents

The words were written by Aniello Califano and the music composed by Enrico Cannio in 1915. The song describes the sadness of a soldier who is fighting at the front during World War I, and who pines for his beloved. Originally Cannio's sheet music was published with piano accompaniment, but in recordings, on 78rpm, then LP, Neapolitan standards such as O surdato have usually been orchestrated to suit each tenor.

Lyrics

Staje luntana da stu core e a te volo cu 'o penziero: niente voglio e niente spero ca tenerte sempe a fianco a me! Si' sicura 'e chist'ammore comm'i' so' sicuro 'e te... Oje vita, oje vita mia... oje core 'e chistu core... si' stata 'o primmo ammore... e 'o primmo e ll'ùrdemo sarraje pe' me! Quanta notte nun te veco, nun te sento 'int'a sti bbracce, nun te vaso chesta faccia, nun t'astregno forte 'mbraccio a me? Ma, scetánnome 'a sti suonne, mme faje chiagnere pe' te... Oje vita.... Scrive sempe e sta' cuntenta: io nun penzo che a te sola... Nu penziero mme cunzola, ca tu pienze sulamente a me... 'A cchiù bella 'e tutt'e bbelle, nun è maje cchiù bella 'e te! Oje vita....


The Corrs when performing with Luciano Pavarotti used the following English lyrics for the second piece:

so many nights without you without you in my arms I can kiss you, i can draw you close to me but wake up from your slumber you make me cry for you

Notable performances and recordings

  • Mario Lanza Mario! 1958
  • Sergio Franchi on Romantic Italian Songs. 1962 RCA Victor Red Seal album. Billboard Top 200 (number seventeen)
  • Franco Corelli on Passione. 1963
  • Giuseppe di Stefano on Neapolitan Songs III 1965
  • Anna Magnani's performance of the song, in the film La sciantosa (1971), is well known, as is the version of Massimo Ranieri.
  • Luciano Pavarotti on Favourite Neapolitan songs 1981
  • Luciano Pavarotti duet with the Corrs. The middle verse is sung in English Video on YouTube

    • Vittorio Grigolo on "Arrivaderci"( 2011).

    References

    ’O surdato ’nnammurato Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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