Running against the grain

Running against the grain Running through the rain Ho attraversato la vita inferiore Seguendo linee per moto contrario Sfruttando per le mie vele Flussi di controcorrente Cercando sempre le cause Che mi hanno insegnato ad andare Con disciplina anche contro le mie inclinazioni From time to time I remember your face so near to me Marmoree scogliere lontane Spezzano ogni forza in mille spume L’odore domina sovrano il profumo delle cose In verità non mi sono mai legato e adesso La mia vita fugge in diagonale Ritorna prepotentemente un desiderio morale La mia vita cerca fughe in diagonale Per accelerare le calde influenze del sole I remember your face so near to me Osservo la mia condizione Il mio prezioso ed alterno passato Le mie bizzarre imprese Sono mercurio colorato Un salto oltre ciò che abbassa Pinna in altro mare e intanto La mia vita fugge in diagonale Ritorna prepotentemente un desiderio morale La mia vita cerca fughe in diagonale Per accelerare le calde influenze del sole Never lookin' backward My heart is beating with you Running til tomorrow And my wild heart is beating Half smashed but never broken Indipendente la mia vita fugge Yeah my wild heart is beating Half smashed but never broken Indipendente la mia vita fugge Listen to tomorrow Running against the grain © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro Battiato described "Running against the grain" as an autobiographical manifesto. Starting with the 2nd verse, Jim Kerr of Simple Minds sings the lines in English.

Running against the grain, running through the rain. I traversed the lower life following lines by contrary motion, taking advantage of, for my sails, flows of countercurrents, searching always the causes that taught me to go with discipline even against my inclinations. From time to time I remember your face so near to me. Distant marble cliffs sweep every force into a thousand froths, smell dominates, sovereign the scent of things. In truth I’ve never been tied down and now my life escapes on the diagonal, a moral yearning returns powerfully, my life seeks escapes on the diagonal to accelerate the hot influences of the sun. I remember your face so near to me. I observe my condition, my precious and alternate past, my weird undertakings, I am colored mercury. A leap over that which turns down, fin in another sea, and instead my life escapes on the diagonal, a moral yearning returns powerfully. My life seeks escapes on the diagonal to accelerate the hot influences of the sun. Never lookin' backward, my heart is beating with you. Running til tomorrow and my wild heart is beating, half smashed but never broken. Independent, my life flees. Yeah my wild heart is beating, half smashed but never broken. Independent, my life flees. Listen to tomorrow. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Bist du bei mir - Are You With Me?

Ardo dal desiderio di vederti Forza perenne delle catene Di stare in mezzo a tanta gente La forza della vita è nel denaro Ma soprattutto la ricchezza virtuale Sta più in alto di quella reale Ma soprattutto la ricchezza virtuale sta più in alto Bisognerebbe scacciare le avversità come si fa con le mosche Per chi rimane incosciente, le colline sono ancora in fiore Risuona un mambo nella cavea e il mondo semplicemente gira Sull’orlo di un precipizio mi inviti adesso a giocare Bist du bei mir geh ich mit Freuden Zum Sterben und zu meiner Ruh Bist du bei mir mit Freuden La luce abbagliò i miei sensi come in un quadro di Monet Mentre l’estate insidiava il giovane Gesualdo Risuona un mambo nella cavea e il mondo semplicemente gira Sull’orlo di un precipizio mi inviti adesso a giocare Bist du bei mir geh ich mit Freuden Zum Sterben und zu meiner Ruh Bist du bei mir mit Freuden Bist du bei mir © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro The song title is taken from an aria by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, from which the German lyrics and melody are taken.

Ardent with the desire to see you. Perennial strength of the shackles, of staying in the midst of so many people. The force of life is in the money, but most importantly the virtual riches are higher than the real ones. But most importantly the virtual riches are higher. It would require warding off adversity as one does with the flies. For whoever remains unconscious, the hills are still in flower. A mambo resounds in the cavea and the world simply whirls. On the edge of a precipice you invite me now to play. Are you with me? I go with pleasure to die and to my rest. Are you with me with pleasure? The light barks at my senses like in a Monet painting, while summer undermined the young Gesualdo. A mambo resounds in the cavea and the world simply whirls. On the edge of a precipice you invite me now to play. Are you with me? I go with pleasure to die and to my rest. Are you with me with pleasure? English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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La quiete dopo un addio - The Quiet after a Farewell

Vivevamo segregati a quel tempo Giacevo così mi parve e cadeva la neve Curiosità e prudenza si univano ed indagavo Mi avventurai a studiare il gelo e i suoi composti E le immense reserve Verrà un altro temporale sarà di nuovo estate E scoppieranno i suoi colori per le strade Ci sentiremo crescere e la voglia di viaggiare Ed incontrare nuovi amori che rifaranno credere Monti sorgenti, dalle acque appariranno le baie dell’incostanza Le valli dell’incoerenza per superare questa noia di vivere Prendi ciò che vuoi dai tuoi giardini sospesi nell’anima Verrà un nuovo temporale e finirà l’estate La quiete dei colori autunnali a riflettersi sulle strade e sugli umori Come il dolce malessere dopo un addio Poche le cose che restano alla fine di un’estate La quiete dei colori autunnali si rifletterà sulle strade e sugli umori Come il dolce malessere dopo un addio La quiete dopo un addio © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro

At that time we lived segregated, I lay thus, it seemed to me, and snow fell. Curiosity and prudence united and I inquired, I ventured to study frost and its compounds and the immense reservations. Another storm will come, summer will be back, and its colors will burst on the streets, we’ll feel ourselves growing and the urge to travel and meet new loves who will make us believe again. Rising mountains, from the waters will appear, the bays of inconstancy, the valleys of incoherency, to overcome this boredom with living. Take what you want from your gardens suspended in your soul. A new storm will come and summer will end, the quiet of the autumn colors to reflect on the streets and on the moods, like the sweet unease after a farewell. Few are the things that remain at summer’s end. The quiet of the autumn colors will reflect on the streets and on the moods, like the sweet unease after a farewell. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Personalità empirica - Empirical Personality

Il faut abandonner la personalitè pour retrouver votre "je" Changer dame cheval et chevalier Changer d'habit baton et penseé (retiens la nuit pour nous deux jusqu'à la fin du monde) Quando non coincide più l'immagine che hai di te Con quello che realmente sei E cominci a detestare i processi meccanici e i tuoi comportamenti E poi le pene che sorpassano la gioia di vivere Coi dispiaceri che ci porta l’esistente Ti viene voglia di cercare spazi sconosciuti Per allenare la tua mente a nuovi stati di coscienza Quand l'image que tu as de toi ne coincide plus avec ce que tu es réellement Quand tu commences à haine les automatismes de ta facon d'agir Et quand les chagrins prennent le pas sur la joie de vivre Avec les peines que nous apportent l'existence Et t vas chercher des espaces inconnus Pour une nouvelle conscience Il faut abandonner la personalitè pour retrouver votre "je" Changer dame cheval et chevalier Changer d'habit baton et penseé Personalità empirica © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Personalità empirica" begins with the piano playing an opening theme of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Opus 23. The message of the song is very Gurdjieffian.

We must give up the personality to recover your "I" Change lady, horse and knight Change your coat and thought (hold the night for the two of us until the end of the world) When it no longer fits, the image you have of yourself with what you really are, and you begin to detest the mechanical processes and your behaviors and then the woes that surpass the joy of life with the disappointments that existing brings us, you get the urge to search for unknown spaces to train your mind in new states of consciousness. When the image you have of you no longer coincides with what you really are, when you begin to hate the automatisms of your way of acting, and when sorrows take precedence over the joy of living with the sorrows that existence bring us and you're going to look for unknown spaces for a new consciousness We must give up the personality to recover your "I" Change lady, horse and knight Change your coat and thought English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Il cammino interminabile - The Unending Way

Se vuoi conoscere i tuoi pensieri di ieri osserva il tuo corpo oggi Se vuoi sapere come sarai domani osserva i tuoi pensieri di oggi Ci penzi quannu abballamu E dintra all'occhi tutte e dui ni vaddamu Stu novu amicu tò nan sapi nenti... No sapi caia statu ju lu tò amanti Li turchi mi pigghiaru intra lu cori A tradimentu m'arrubbaru l'amuri ‘nzignatimi la via prima cà scura Ca di sti patti stannu d'arretu e mura Si no mi cuccu ‘n terra o ‘nda lu lettu Ca di li vermi sugnu già mangiatu tuttu Si no mi cuccu ‘n terra o ‘nda lu lettu... Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali ‘U tempu sta finennu na ‘n ci pinzari Macari aceddi sunu stanchi di cantari Su tempu sta finennu na ‘n ci pinzari Macari aceddi sunu stanchi di cantari Mi l'aia passatu tra peni e turmenti Li peni di lu ‘nfernu nan su nenti Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali Curri e na stanca ‘u cavaddu ‘i Monreali Il cammino interminabile © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Il cammino interminabile" begins with phrases reminiscent of a Buddhist discourse found in the Majjhima Nikāya. The rest of the song consists of fragments in the Sicilian dialect taken from popular songs and common phrases of speech.

If you want to know yesterday's thoughts, observe your body today. If you want to know how you will be tomorrow, observe your thoughts today. Do you remember when we used to dance, and in our eyes we both were watching ourselves? This new friend of yours know nothing . . . He doesn’t know that I was your lover. The Turks took me straight into their heart, backstabbing they robbed me of love. Teach me the way before it gets dark. Because in these parts they lurk behind the walls, if I don’t lie down on the ground or in bed. Because everything is already eaten by the worms, if I don’t lie down on the ground or in bed. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. Time is running out, don’t worry about it. Even the birds are tired of singing. If time is running out, don’t worry about it, even the birds are tired of singing. I struggled with pain and torment, the pains of hell are nothing. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. The horse of Montreal runs without tiring. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Lontananze d'azzurro - Distances of Blue

Sembra che non finisca questa lunga notte d’inverno Sembra che tardi il sole come fosse in pericolo Rovine inseguono i ricordi, ma io voglio vivere il presente Senza fine. Il giorno davanti a cui fugga questa notte Voglio lontananze d’azzurro per me Pensa a come eravamo certe volte di domenica... Pieni di ostilità e di oscillazioni Così cancello i miei ricordi Ma io voglio vivere il presente senza fine Il giorno davanti a cui fugga questa notte Voglio lontananze d’azzurro per me Riprenditi la tua libertà, il tuo orgoglio inutile La tua precarietà Domani parto, cambio vita e altitudine Ma io voglio vivere il presente senza fine Lontananze d'azzurro © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Lontananze d'azzurro" was inspired by a poem by Arthur Schopenhauer (possibly "Sonetto" found in Parerga and Paralipomena?).

It seems to never end this long night of winter. It seems the sun runs late as if it were in danger. Ruins chase after memories, but I want to live the present without end. The day ahead of which this night flees. I want distances of blue for me. Think about how we were certain times on Sundays . . . full of hostility and oscillations, thus I delete my memories. But I want to live the present without end. The day ahead of which this night flees, I want distances of blue for me. Retake your freedom, your useless pride, your precariousness. Tomorrow I leave, I’ll change my life and altitude. But I want to live the present without end. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Sarcofagia - The Practice of Eating Meat

Fu nefasta e temibile l’età del tempo Di profonda e irrimediabile povertà Quando ancora non si distingueva l’aurora dal tramonto Quando l’aria della prima origine mischiata a torbida E instabile umidità al fuoco ed alla furia dei venti Celava il cielo e gli astri Come può la vista sopportare l’uccisione di esseri Che vengono sgozzati e fatti a pezzi Non ripugna il gusto berne gli umori e il sangue Le carni agli spiedi crude E c’era come un suono di vacche Non è mostruoso desiderare di cibarsi Di un essere che ancora emette suoni Sopravvivono i riti di sarcofagia e cannibalismo Sopravvivono i riti di sarcofagia e cannibalismo Fu nefasta e temibile l’età del tempo Di profonda e irrimediabile povertà Quando ancora non si distingueva l’aurora dal tramonto Quando l’aria della prima origine mischiata a torbida E instabile umidità al fuoco ed alla furia dei venti Celava il cielo e gli astir Sopravvivono i riti di sarcofagia e cannibalismo Sopravvivono i riti di sarcofagia e cannibalismo Sarcofagia © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Sarcofagia" uses images and material taken from Plutarch's De Esu Carnium, a treatise written when he was young arguing against eating meat. Battiato became a vegetarian sometime in the 1990s.

It was nefarious and terrifying the age of the time of deep and hopeless poverty, when they still didn’t distinguish sunrise from sunset, when the air of the first origin, mixed with turbid and unstable humidity, from the fire and the fury of the winds concealed the sky and the stars. How can sight stand the killing of beings that become slaughtered and made into pieces. Drinking the juices and blood isn’t repugnant, the raw meats on the skewers, and there was something like a sound of cows. It’s not monstrous to desire to feed oneself a being that still emits sounds. The rites of flesh eating and cannibalism survive. The rites of flesh eating and cannibalism survive. It was nefarious and terrifying the age of the time of deep and hopeless poverty, when they still didn’t distinguish sunrise from sunset, when the air of the first origin, mixed with turbid and unstable humidity, from the fire and the fury of the winds concealed the sky and the stars. The rites of flesh eating and cannibalism survive. The rites of flesh eating and cannibalism survive. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Scherzo in minore - Scherzo in a Minor Key

Accanto a un platano ingiallito ti giurai Amore per l’eternità Mi risvegliavi un’innocenza preadamitica E un’immobilità Ma l’uomo non è pietra di tungsteno E cambia spesso proprietà Uccide sempre a tradimento con veleno di invidia e d’infedeltà E i giorni si cancellano l’un l’altro E il caldo al freddo si unisce Svelto con mosse da levriero il mio dolore cambia pur esso il suo colore Ho visto un lampo illuminare scene del futuro Gli anni mi dividono in sparse parti Il numero sapessi lasciar tracce Scherzo in minore © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Scherzo in minore" samples generously Django Reinhardt's 1937 piece "Minor Swing." Sgalambro was passionate about jazz, while Battiato was not. Nevertheless, he liked the irresistible swing of this piece. In Western classical music, a scherzo (meaning "joke" in Italian) is a song form, often sprightly in nature.

Next to a yellowing plane tree I promised you love forevermore. You aroused in me a pre-Adamic innocence and an immobility. But man isn’t tungsten rock, and changes properties often. He kills often out of betrayal, with poison of envy and infidelity. And the days cancel each other out and the heat and cold combine. Quick with greyhound movements my pain changes despite it’s color. I saw a lamp illuminate scenes of the future. The years divide me into scattered parts. The number knew how to leave tracks. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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Il potere del canto - The Power of Singing

Sprezza ogni inganno Il canto è potere Si bagna come un prato Si arrampica sugli alberi Fa muovere il giroscopio Spezza ogni inganno Ha la forza di undici aquile Ha la forza di undici aquile Fa smuovere il cuore al faraone Fa smuovere il cuore al faraone Il potere del canto © 2001 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Il potere del canto" is followed by another song unannounced in the track list, with Battiato and Fleur Jaeggy singing in German over an evolving electronic soundscape.

It scorns every deception, singing is power. It bathes like a meadow, clambers on the trees, it moves the gyroscope. It scorns every deception. It has the strength of eleven eagles, it has the strength of eleven eagles. It stirs the heart to the guinea fowl, it stirs the heart to the guinea fowl. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Ferro Battuto was released in 2001, with a sound decidedly more pop than Gommalacca, reflecting a desire on Battiato's part to communicate more directly with his public. The lyrics on most of the songs were co-written by Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro.

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