Five Venetian 'boat songs'

Song Cycle by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist

View original-language texts alone: Cinque Canzonette veneziane "da battello"

1. Diseme pur balordo
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Diseme pur balordo
Diseme pur cocal
che no ghe n'ho per mal,
museto belo.

Se anca me bastonè
o péso vu me fè
a tuto mi ghe fasso de capelo.

Se anca me comandessi
in fogo vivo andar,
mi no staria ...
a presto andaria.

Soportaria de cuor
de le fiamme l'ardor,
perchè vu sè el mio ben,
La vita mia.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Tell me that I am stupid
Language: English 
Tell me that I am stupid
Tell me that I am an idiot
that I don't matter, 
O beautiful little face.

And know that if you thrash me
or make me  feel worse
I still can't be cured of my love.

If you commanded me
to throw myself  half in the fire,
I would not wait...
I would go immediately.

I would bear with pleasure
the burning of the flame,
because you are my darling,
My life.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2006 by Anne Evans, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-10-19
Line count: 15
Word count: 77

Translation © by Anne Evans
2. Quei oci me fa guera
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Quei oci me fa guera
e me ferisse ognora.
Ma più, cara,
mi inamora,
quel vostro bel visin.
                                           
Insoma me piasé
no so se lo sapiè
che abia tuto in sconquasso
sto gramo coresin.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Those eyes they strike
Language: English 
Those eyes they strike 
and  wound me  every time.
But more  than that,  darling,
they make me fall in love                                                           
with your beautiful little face.

Well, I really like you
but don't know if you realise  
that my poor heart
is totally distraught.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2006 by Anne Evans, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-10-19
Line count: 9
Word count: 43

Translation © by Anne Evans
3. Quele rane via lassé
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Quele rane via lassè
Non fissè a quela misura che vu
Beta, fe un gran mal!

Geri sguarda come el fogo,
grassa come un beccafigo,
e vu adesso se un feral.

Resto assae mortificà
perchè v'amo.. che xè un toco,
benchè vu no lo sapiè.

Ve confesso adesso el vero
che a vederve cussì afflita
propriamente me massè.

Se pecà che quel visin
abia dà in malinconia,
non se vogia un fià esalar.

Se aplichè vu d'esser mia,
Mi so vostro...
Comandeme!
Che so tuto qua per vu.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. Leave behind your bad moods
Language: English 
Leave behind your bad moods 
Don't fixate on the things you see
Beta, you'll make yourself ill!

You were passionate like a fire,
plump  like a  figeater bird,
and now you are  thin like a streetlamp.

It truly mortifies me
because  I love you ...that  is a fact,
even though you don't know it.

And to tell you the truth                
to see you afflicted like this
truly  kills me.

It's a pity that your little face
is always so melancholy like this,
and doesn't want  to brighten up.

If you would pledge to be with me,
I would be at your disposal...
Command me!
I am here always for you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2006 by Anne Evans, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-10-19
Line count: 19
Word count: 110

Translation © by Anne Evans
4. Sento che el cuor
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Sento che el cuor me manca
averte da lassar ...
e afato abandonar.
Moro da la passion
che mai sarà de mi.
Privo restar de ti,
tra pene tante.

Adio per sempre, adio.
Ah, vissare del mio cuor.
Adio mio dolce amor.
Adio ma stela.
Chi'l pianto pol frenar,
In caso si crudel...
Si, parte el to fedel
Adio, mia bela.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. I feel that my heart is broken
Language: English 
I feel that my heart is broken
having to leave ...
and  I feel abandoned.
I die of the passion
that will never be mine.
Without remaining with you,
I am in such pain.

Goodbye forever, goodbye.  
Ah, your image is locked in my heart.
Goodbye my sweet love.
Goodbye my star.
The tears trickle down,
Chance is so cruel...
Yes, leave it to Fate
Goodbye my beauty.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2006 by Anne Evans, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-10-19
Line count: 15
Word count: 67

Translation © by Anne Evans
5. Infin che'l tempo e' belo
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Infin che'l tempo è belo,
andemo a far bordelo,
andemo a ciassisar, puti galanti.
Non stemo a consumar,
più tempo a smorosar,
che'l fruto de l'amor xe pene e pianti.
Andemo a ciassisar, puti galanti.

Montemo in bateleto,
marciemo col frescheto,
metemose a sonar,femo fracasso.
Non stemo a consumar,
più tempo a smorosar,
che'l fruto de l'amor xe pene e pianti.
Andemo a ciassisar, puti galanti!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. Finally the weather is beautiful
Language: English 
Finally the weather is beautiful,
so let's go to  the brothel,
let's go to enjoy ourselves, gallant young lads.
Don't let's wear ourselves out,
then we'll have more time to make love,
for the fruit of love is full of pains and tears.
Let's go and enjoy ourselves, gallant young lads!

Climb into the little boat, 
row with renewed vigour, 
echo the sounds, make a din.
But don't lets wear ourselves out,                                     
then we'll have more time to make love,
for the fruit of love is full of pains and tears.
Let's go and enjoy ourselves gallant young lads!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2006 by Anne Evans, (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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2006-10-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 99

Translation © by Anne Evans