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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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Based on:
- 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