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Chi padre mi fosse, qual patria mi sia, Invano la gente chiamando mi va; Del primo mai seppi ed è patria mia La terra che un fiore, che un frutto mi dà. Dovunque il destino m'addita un sentiero, Io trovo un sorriso, io trovo un amor; Perchè del passato darommi pensiero, Se l'ora presente è lieta al mio cor? Può, è vero, il domani un torbido velo Dell'aure serene l'aspetto turbar; Ma s'oggi risplende azzurro il mio cielo, Perchè rattristarmi d'un dubbio avvenir? Io sono una pianta che ghiaccio non spoglia, Che tutto disfida del verno il rigor; Se fronda qui cade, là un'altra germoglia, In ogni stagione son carca di fior.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901), "La zingara", 1845 [ voice and piano ], from 6 Romanze, no. 2, also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Giuseppe Verdi.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La gitana", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The Gypsy Girl", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Will Crutchfield) , "The Gypsy Girl", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La gitane", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Die Zigeunerin", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 112
Who my father or homeland might be, everyone asks me in vain. I never knew the former, and my home is whatever soil gives me fruit or flower! Wherever destiny shows me a path, I find a smile; I find a love. Why give myself a thought of the past if the present hour is happy to my heart? It’s true, tomorrow a murky cloud could disturb the placid sky. But if the heaven shines blue today, why worry about a doubtful future? I am a plant that frost cannot denude, that defies completely the harsh winter. If a leaf falls here, another blooms there; in every season, I’m loaded with flowers!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2025 by Will Crutchfield, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by S. Manfredo Maggioni
This text was added to the website: 2025-05-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 112