Giubbe rosse - Red Shirts

Abito in una casa di collina E userò la macchina tre volte al mese Con 2000 lire di benzina Scendo giù in paese Quante lucertole attraversano la strada Vanno veloci ed io più piano ad evitarle Quanti giardini di aranci e limoni Balconi traboccanti di gerani Per Pasqua oppure quando ci si sposa Usiamo per lavarci Petali di rose E le lucertole attraversano la strada Com'è diverso e uguale Il loro mondo dal mio Vivere più a sud Per trovare la mia stella E i cieli e i mari Prima dov'ero Passare dal mercato del pesce Prendere i collari in farmacia per i cani E ritirare i vetri cattedrale del gazebo Il fuoco incandescente del vulcano Allontanò il potere delle Giubbe Rosse E come sembra tutto disumano E certi capi allora e oggi E certe masse Quanti fantasmi ci attraversano la strada Ritornare a sud Per seguire il mio destino La prossima tappa Del mio cammino in me Per trovare la mia stella E i cieli e i mari Prima dov'ero Giubbe rosse © 1989 Franco Battiato "Giubbe rosse" is a sort of homage to the South of Italy, marking Battiato's return to living there after his many years in Milan. The giubbe rosse were and for some still are a symbol of the enemy for Sicilians - these Red Shirts were the soldiers of Giuseppe Garibaldi who united most of Italy in the 1860s, though many in the then Kingdom of Two Sicilies viewed the "unification" as an invasion by the northern Savoy dynasty. On the other hand, there is a famous café in Florence, Caffè Giubbe Rosse, that served as an important meeting place for artists and intellectuals in the early 20th century. Above all else, the song shows Battiato ensconced in the world of Sicily, back where his roots are.

I live in a house on a hill and I’ll use the car three times a month. With 2,000 liras of gasoline I head down to the town. So many lizards crossing the road – they go fast, and I more slowly to avoid them. So many gardens of oranges and lemons, balconies with geraniums spilling over. For Easter, or when people get married, for washing ourselves we use rose petals, and the lizards cross the road. How different it is, and equal, their world from mine. Living more to the south to find my star and the heavens and the seas before where I used to be. Passing by the fish market, grabbing collars in the pharmacy for the dogs, and retracting the cathedral windows of the gazebo. The incandescent fire of the volcano distanced the power of the Red Shirts. And how everything seems inhumane, and certain leaders then and now and certain masses, so many phantoms cross the road through us. Returning south to follow my destiny, the next stop of my journey into myself, to find my star and the heavens and the seas before where I used to be. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Giubbe rosse was released in 1989. It captures performances from the winter portion of the Fisiognomica tour, and included four Battiato songs not previously released on any of his albums.

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Alexander Platz

E di colpo venne il mese di Febbraio Faceva freddo in quella casa Mi ripetevi: sai che d'Inverno si vive bene come di Primavera! Sì sì proprio così La bidella ritornava dalla scuola un po' più presto per aiutarmi "ti vedo stanca hai le borse sotto gli occhi Come ti trovi a Berlino Est?" Alexander Platz aufwiederseen C'era la neve Faccio quattro passi a piedi Fino alla frontiera: "vengo con te" E la sera rincasavo sempre tardi Solo i miei passi lungo i viali E mi piaceva Spolverare fare i letti Poi restarmene in disparte come vera principessa Prigioniera del suo film Che aspetta all'angolo come Marlene Hai le borse sotto gli occhi Come ti trovi a Berlino Est? Alexander Platz aufwiederseen C'era la neve Ci vediamo questa sera fuori dal teatro "ti piace Schubert?" Alexander Platz © 1979 Franco Battiato & Giusto Pio "Alexander Platz" is based on a song (called Valery) originally written for an album by Alfredo Cohen. Battiato recrafted the lyrics for Milva, who had great success with the song in 1982.

And suddenly the month of February came. It was cold in that house. I repeated to myself: you know that in winter one lives as well as in spring! Yes, yes, just so. The janitor returned from school a little early to help me. “I see you’re tired, you have bags under your eyes. How do you like East Berlin?” Alexander Platz, farewell. It was snowing. I take four footsteps up to the border: “I’ll come with you.” And I returned home at night, always late, only my footsteps along the streets, and I liked dusting, making the beds, then staying in the background like a true princess. Prisoner of her film, who waits on the corner like Marlene. You have bags under your eyes, how do you like East Berlin? Alexander Platz, farewell. It was snowing. Let’s meet this evening outside the theater: “Do you like Schubert.” English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Giubbe rosse was released in 1989. It captures performances from the winter portion of the Fisiognomica tour, and included four Battiato songs not previously released on any of his albums.

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Lettera al governatore della Libia - Letter to the Governor of Libya

Presso una casa antica e bella Piena di foto di Regine e di bandiere Aspettavamo il Console Italiano La fine dell'estate fu veloce Nuvole nere in cielo e qualche foglia in terra Carico di Lussuria si presentò l'Autunno di Bengasi Lo sai che è desiderio della mano L'impulso di toccarla Ho scritto già una lettera al Governatore della Libia I trafficanti d'armi Occidentali Passano coi Ministri a fianco alle frontiere Andate a far la guerra a Tripoli Nel cielo vanno i cori dei soldati Contro Al Mukhtar e Lawrence d'Arabia Con canti popolari da osteria Lo sai che quell'idiota di Graziani Farà una brutta fine Ho scritto già una lettera al Governatore della Libia... Lettera al governatore della Libia © 1980 Franco Battiato & Giusto Pio "Lettera al governatore della Libia" was written for Giuni Rossi and appeared on her first album in 1981. From 1911-1947, Libya was a colony of Italy.

Near an ancient and beautiful house full of photos of Queens and bandits, we were waiting for the Italian Consul. The end of summer came quickly, black clouds in the sky and some leaves on the ground. Full of Lust, Benghazi Autumn introduced himself. You know that it’s the hand’s desire, the impulse to touch her. I already wrote a letter to the Governor of Libya. The Western arms traffickers pass with the Ministers along the borders. Go and make war at Tripoli. To heaven go the choirs of soldiers against al-Mukhtar and Lawrence of Arabia with popular tavern songs. You know for that idiot Graziani things will come to an ugly end. I already wrote a letter to the Governor of Libya . . . English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Giubbe rosse was released in 1989. It captures performances from the winter portion of the Fisiognomica tour, and included four Battiato songs not previously released on any of his albums.

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Mesopotamia

Lo sai che più si invecchia Più affiorano ricordi lontanissimi Come se fosse ieri Mi vedo a volte in braccio a mia madre E sento ancora i teneri commenti di mio padre I pranzi, le domeniche dai nonni Le voglie e le esplosioni irrazionali I primi passi, gioie e dispiaceri La prima goccia bianca che spavento E che piacere strano E un innamoramento senza senso Per legge naturale a quell'età I primi accordi su di un organo da chiesa in sacrestia Ed un dogmatico rispetto Verso le istituzioni Che cosa resterà di me? Del transito terrestre? Di tutte le impressioni che ho avuto in questa vita? Mi piacciono le scelte radicali La morte consapevole che si autoimpose Socrate E la scomparsa misteriosa e unica di Majorana La vita cinica ed interessante di Landolfi Opposto ma vicino a un monaco birmano O la misantropia celeste in Benedetti Michelangeli Anch'io a guardarmi bene vivo da millenni E vengo dritto dalla civiltà più alta dei Sumeri Dall'arte cuneiforme degli Scribi E dormo spesso dentro un sacco a pelo Perché non voglio perdere i contatti con la terra La valle tra i due fiumi della Mesopotamia Che vide alle sue rive Isacco di Ninive Che cosa resterà di noi? Del transito terrestre? Di tutte le impressioni che abbiamo in questa vita? Mesopotamia © 1988 Franco Battiato "Mesopotamia" is a lightly edited version of a song Battiato wrote for Gianni Morandi in 1988 (“Che cosa resterà di me” from the album Dalla/Morandi).

You know that the older you get the more the most distant memories emerge as if it were yesterday. Sometimes I see myself in the arms of my mother and I still feel the tender comments of my father. The lunches, the Sundays at the grandparents, the desires and the irrational explosions, the first steps, joys and disappointments. The first white droplet, what fear and what strange pleasure. And a senseless falling in love for natural laws at that age. The first chords on a church organ in the sacristy, and a dogmatic respect for institutions. What will remain of me? Of my terrestrial transit? Of all the impressions I’ve had in this life? I like the radical choices, the conscious death that Socrates self-imposed, and the mysterious and unique death of Majorana. The cynical and interesting life of Landolfi, the opposite, but near to a Burmese monk. Or the heavenly misanthropy in Benedetti Michelangeli. Even I, to view myself well, have lived for millennia and I come straight from the highest civilization of the Sumer, from the cuneiform art of the Scribes, and I sleep often inside a sleeping bag because I don’t want to lose contact with the earth. The valley between the two rivers of the Mesopotamia that saw at its banks Isaac of Nineveh. What will remain of us? Of our terrestrial transit? Of all the impressions we’ve had in this life? English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Giubbe rosse was released in 1989. It captures performances from the winter portion of the Fisiognomica tour, and included four Battiato songs not previously released on any of his albums.

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