Arabian Song

Qala' mua'llimu'll qariatì Kana aggiabalu fi-ggiabali A-ssalam 'alaikum 'alaiki Alana ana asskunu... La mia classe fu allevata con il latte di una capra e del pane di frumento A quei tempi per divertimento non avevano inventato il telegiornale Quando ero più giovane credevo che esistesse libertà Qala' mua'llimu'll qariatì Kana aggiabalu fi-ggiabali A-ssalam 'alaikum 'alaiki Alana ana asskunu... Da bambini si giocava sulle spiagge con degli aquiloni a gara sotto il sole Mentre guardavamo il mio salire verso l'alto preoccupati che non si sciupasse La mia parte assente si identificava con l'umidità Qala' mua'llimu'll qariatì Kana aggiabalu fi-ggiabali A-ssalam 'alaikum 'alaiki Alana ana asskunu... Gli orchestrali sono uguali in tutto il mondo simili ai segnali orario delle radio Le domeniche e nei giorni di vacanza ci si organizzava per le feste in casa L'uomo è l'animale più domestico e più stupido che c'è Qala' mua'llimu'll qariatì Kana aggiabalu fi-ggiabali A-ssalam 'alaikum 'alaiki Alana ana asskunu... Arabian Song © 1980 Franco Battiato During this period of time, Battiato was a serious student of the Arabic language, among other things. The choruses in Arabic make an intriguing glue that holds together the various memories and reflections in the verses.

The master of our region said, “It was the mountain inside the mountain, may peace be with you. Now I reside.” My class was reared on goat’s milk and some wheat bread. In those times, for entertainment, they hadn’t invented TV news. When I was younger I believed there was complete freedom. The master of our region said, “It was the mountain inside the mountain, may peace be with you. Now I reside.” We played as kids on the beaches with some racing kites under the sun. While we watched mine rise up high, worried that it might get damaged, my distracted part identified with the humidity. The master of our region said, “It was the mountain inside the mountain, may peace be with you. Now I reside.” Orchestras are the same the world over, similar to radio time tones. On Sundays and vacation days plans were made for parties at home. Man is the tamest and stupidest animal there is. The master of our region said, “It was the mountain inside the mountain, may peace be with you. Now I reside.” English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Patriots was released in 1980. In the lyrics of this album, there emerge a greater emphasis on irony, the use of foreign languages, and the stringing together of disconnected phrases into montages that may or may not yield meaning upon further analysis, and whose purpose may at times be as much musical as semantic. As is typical with Battiato, there are references to literature, art, philosophy, religion, and music, along with snapshots of personal memories, that form a mix of both high and everyday culture.

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