Atlantide - Atlantis

E gli dei tirarono a sorte Si divisero il mondo: Zeus la Terra Ade gli Inferi Poseidon il continente sommerso Apparve Atlantide Immenso, isole e montagne Canali simili ad orbite celesti Il suo re Atlante Conosceva la dottrina della sfera Gli astri la geometria La cabala e l'alchimia In alto il tempio Sei cavalli alati Le statue d'oro, d'avorio e oricalco Per generazioni la legge dimorò Nei principi divini I re mai ebbri delle immense ricchezze E il carattere umano s'insinuò E non sopportarono la felicità Neppure la felicità In un giorno e una notte La distruzione avvenne Tornò nell'acqua Sparì Atlantide Atlantide © 1993 Franco Battiato & Carlotta Weick The lyrics of "Atlantide" were written by Carlotta Weick, pseudonym of the Swiss author Fleur Jaeggy. Battiato inserts some samples from Stockhausen's Momente starting at around 1:00. Stockhausen was an important influence on Battiato's musical development during the 1970s.

And the gods drew lots, divided up the world: Zeus, the Earth, Hades, the Underworld, Poseidon, the submerged continent. Atlantis appeared, immense, islands and mountains, canals similar to celestial orbits. Its king Atlas knew the doctrine of the sphere, the stars, geometry, the Kabbalah and alchemy. High up, the temple, six winged horses, the statues of gold, of ivory and orichalcum. For generations the law abided in divine principles, the kings never intoxicated by the immense riches. And the human character insinuated itself and couldn’t stand the felicity – not even felicity. In one day and one night the destruction came to pass. It returned into the water, Atlantis disappeared. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Caffé de la Paix was released in 1993 and sees a return to using rock band instrumentation on some of the songs, combined with both classical/orchestral textures and the use of Eastern ethnic instruments like tabla and tanbur. The album brings together many of Battiato's cultural and musical interests, and the Caffé of its title refers to the Paris café where George Gurdjieff often went to write and to meet his students. The teachings of Gurdjieff are one of the three spiritual pillars in Battiato's life and work, along with Sufism and Tibetan Buddhism.

Back to Album List         Back to Song List