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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