Memoria di Giulia - Memory of Julia

Quel letto d'ottone in cui mi accoglievi giovinetto Il radiogrammofono che prendeva tutto Quando ti portavo in quel caffè "prego, fragole con panna" dicevo E superbo ti guardavo mentre l'altro Mi ricambiava con disprezzo Sogghignando verso te E la tua foto che portai tanti anni addosso Prima che un cassetto l'accogliesse e la sbiadisse Seppi della tua morte E rividi i tuoi boccoli E sul tuo viso la sorte La mia memoria trae fuori i ricordi da un cappello Senza che io sappia perché questo e non quello Ho avuto delle gioie. Talvolta Si dormiva tutti e tre Io tua madre e te nello stesso letto Ma che innocenza, che santa trinità Era un gesto d'affetto e di rispetto O memoria perché mi inganni Perché come se fossi vento Mi butti questa polvere negli occhi Accarezzavo le tue ginocchia E il tuo semplice cuore era contento Ho avuto delle gioie, sì Ti ricordo così, povera Giulia, gaia e ridente Impaziente mi aspettava la vita Mentre il vento frizzante del mattino Si portava via ogni cosa Avevo diciassette anni Memoria di Giulia © 1996 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Memoria di Giulia" is reminiscent of "A Silvia," a poem by Giacomo Leopardi, the premier 19th century Italian poet.

That brass bed in which you embraced me, a young man. The gramophone that took everything. When I took you to that coffeehouse “strawberries and cream, please,” I said. And proud I watched you while the other reciprocated with displeasure, grimacing towards you. And your photo that I kept on me so many years, before a dresser received it and faded it. I knew of your death and I saw again your ringlets, and on your face your destiny. My memory pulls out of a hat the remembrances without knowing why this and not that. I had some joys, sometimes. All three of us slept – me, your mother, and you – in the same bed. But such innocence, what a holy trinity. It was a gesture of affection and respect. Oh memory, why do you fool me? Why, as if you were wind, do you throw this dust in my eyes? I caressed your knees and your simple heart was content. I had some joys, yes. I remember you thus, poor Julia, gay and laughing. Impatient, life waited for me while the crisp morning wind carried everything away. I was 17 years old. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser L'imboscata (The Ambush) was released in 1996. It marked another change of direction for Battiato, returning to the world of rock and the electric guitar after his turn into classical music sonorities beginning in 1986. He also felt a desire to connect to a larger popular audience (the sales of his previous album were the lowest of all his pop albums going back to 1979; L'imboscata became the second best selling album of the year). The album cover is a painting by Antoine-Jean Gros - Napoleon at the Pyramids. Like the previous album, the lyrics were by the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro, with Battiato's input on "Di passaggio" and "La cura." The album was dedicated to the writer Gesualdo Bufalino, a close friend of Battiato's.

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