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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.
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 CAT ENG FRE ; composed by Giuseppe Verdi.
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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
- 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 was my father, what is my country? In vain people go on calling to me; What of the first thing I knew, and of my homeland? It’s any land that gives me flowers and fruits. Wherever fate leads me, I find a smile, I find a lover; Why worry about the past When my heart is happy now? It may come to pass that tomorrow a dark veil Will obscure my serene appearance; But if today my sky is a resplendent blue, Why be sad from doubts that may not come to pass? I am a plant that isn’t damaged by frost, That defies all of winter's severity; If one leafy branch falls here, another germinates there, In every season I am laden with flowers.
Authorship
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by S. Manfredo Maggioni
This text was added to the website: 2016-04-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 126