I’m not super crazy about this Paolo Conte album called “Wonderful” – not sure why. Maybe I need to listen a little bit more. The one song I really do like though is “Onda Su Onda” (wave after wave).
Our teacher at our language school in Florence knows I like music so she’s always suggesting new songs and this is one she recommended. In the song, a guy falls overboard from a ship but his girlfriend doesn’t seem to notice as she is dancing in the arms of another. But luckily, the guy ends up on a tropical island and doesn’t mind his fate.
Here are the lyrics (I’ll post the translation in a comment):
Che notte buia che c'è
povero me, povero me
Che acqua gelida qua
nessuno più mi salverà
Son caduto dalla nave
Son caduto mentre a bordo c'era il ballo...
Onda su onda
Il mare mi porterà
alla deriva,
in balia di una sorte bizzarra e cattiva
Onda su onda
mi sto allontanando ormai
La nave è una lucciola persa nel blu,
mai più mi salverò
Sara, ti sei accorta?
Stai già danzando insieme a lui
con gli occhi chiusi ti stringi a lui
Sara, ma non importa
Stupenda l'isola è
Il clima è dolce intorno a me
Ci sono palme e bambù,
è un luogo pieno di virtù
Steso al sole ad asciugarmi il corpo e il viso
guardo in faccia il paradiso
Onda su onda
Il mar mi ha portato qui:
ritmi, canzoni,
donne di sogno, banane, lamponi
Onda su onda,
mi sono ambientato ormai...
il naufragio mi ha dato la felicità che tu
non mi sai dar...
Sara, ti sei accorta?
Tu stai danzando insieme a lui
con gli occhi chiusi ti stringi a lui
Sara, ma non importa
Onda su onda...
My "attempt" at a translation:
ReplyDeleteWhat a dark night it was,
poor me, poor me
that the water is freezing here,
no one will save me
I fell overboard on the boat
I fell while there was a dance
Wave after wave
the sea will carry me
astray
at the mercy of a bizarre and bad
wave after wave
that are putting me away now from
the ship a glow-worm lost in the blue
never at all will I be saved
Sara, did you notice?
You were already dancing together with him.
With closed eyes, holding him
Sara, but it’s not important
Wonderful island,
the weather is sweet around me
there are palms and bamboo
a place full of virtue
lying down the sun dries my body and face
I look into the face of paradise
Wave after wave
the sea has taken me here
rhythm, songs
women from dreams, bananas, raspberries
wave after wave
I’m in a (movie) set now
the shipwreck has given me the happiness
that you didn’t know to give
Sara, did you notice,
You were dancing together with him.
With closed eyes, holding him
Sara, but it’s not important
Wave after wave
wow, the Italians really know drama.
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