'O Surdato 'Nnamurato

"'O Surdato 'Nnamurato" (in English: "The Soldier in Love") is one of the most famous songs ever written in the Neapolitan language. The song is generally regarded as the anthem of S.S.C. Napoli.

The words were written by Aniello Califano in 1915; the music was composed by Enrico Cannio. The song describes the sadness of a soldier who is fighting at the front during World War I, and who pines for his beloved.

Anna Magnani's performance of the song, in the film La sciantosa, is well known, as is the more modern version of Massimo Ranieri. Nini Grassia directed a film which took its name from the song in 1983.

Italian-American tenor Sergio Franchi covered this song in his 1962 Billboard Top 200 (number seventeen) RCA Victor Red Seal album Romantic Italian Songs.

Lyrics

Staje luntana da stu core,

a te volo cu 'o penziero:

niente voglio e niente spero

ca tenerte sempe a fianco a me!

Si' sicura 'e chist'ammore

comm'i' so' sicuro 'e te...

Oje vita, oje vita mia...

oje core 'e chistu core...

si' stata 'o primmo ammore...

e 'o primmo e ll'ùrdemo sarraje pe' me!

Quanta notte nun te veco,

nun te sento 'int'a sti bbracce,

nun te vaso chesta faccia,

nun t'astregno forte 'mbraccio a me?!

Ma, scetánnome 'a sti suonne,

mme faje chiagnere pe' te...

Oje vita....

Scrive sempe e sta' cuntenta:

io nun penzo che a te sola...

Nu penziero mme cunzola,

ca tu pienze sulamente a me...

'A cchiù bella 'e tutte bbelle,

nun è maje cchiù bella 'e te!

Oje vita....

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

You are far away from this heart, I fly to you in thought: I hope and want nothing more than always keeping you by my side! Are you sure about this love As I am sure that I love you ...

Oh life, oh my life ... Oh heart of this heart ... You were the first love ... and the first and last you will be for me!

How many nights have I not seen you, not felt you in my arms, not kissed your face, not held you tight in my arms?! But, waking from these dreams, you make me cry for you ...

Oh life, oh my life ...

You write that you are always happy: I can only think of you... One thought comforts me, you only think of me ... The most beautiful woman in the world, is never more beautiful than you!

External links

• 'O Surdato 'Nnamurato at the Internet Movie Database, 1983
• E-chords
• Italian translation