Tra sesso e castità - Between Sex and Chastity

Andando a caso consideravo girando per strade vuote Che l’equilibrio si vede da sè si avverte immediatamente Ribussa ai miei pensieri un desiderio di ieri Ed è l’eterna lotta tra sesso e castità Chissà com’è la tua vita oggi E chissà perché avrò abdicato Scorrono gli anni nascosti dal fatto che c’è sempre molto da fare E il tempo presente si lascia fuggire con scuse condizionali Ribussa ai miei pensieri un desiderio di ieri Ed è l’eterno scontro tra sesso e castità Chissà com’è la tua vita oggi E chissà perché avrò abdicato Tra i sussurri l’indolente ebbrezza di ascendere e cadere qui Tra la vita e il sonno, la luce e il buio dove forze oscure Da sempre si scatenano Felici i giorni in cui il fato ti riempie di lacrime ed arcobaleni Della lussuria che tenta i papaveri con turbinii e voglie … Chissà perché avrò abdicato con te riproverei ... Per capriccio gioco per necessità Mi divido così tra astinenza e pentimenti Tra sesso e castità Tra sesso e castità © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Tra sesso e castità " is a

Going around randomly, I considered, wandering the empty streets, that the equilibrium one sees by itself is felt immediately. Knocking again at my thoughts is a desire from yesterday, and it’s the eternal struggle between sex and chastity. Who knows how your life is today, and who knows why I’ll have abdicated? The years flow by hidden from the fact that there is always much to do, and the present time is left to flee with conditional excuses. Knocking again at my thoughts is a desire from yesterday, and it’s the eternal encounter between sex and chastity. Who knows how your life is today, and who knows why I’ll have abdicated? Between whispers the indolent intoxication of rising and falling here. Between life and sleep, light and darkness, where obscure forces since forever have been unleashed. Happy the days in which fate fills you with tears and rainbows, with the lust that tempts the poppies, with whirlwinds and desires. Who knows why I will have abdicated, with you I would try again . . . On a whim I play for necessity. I divide myself thus, between abstinence and regrets, between sex and chastity. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Le aquili non volano a stormi - Eagles Don't Fly in Flocks

Giorni e mesi corrono veloci La strada è oscura e incerta E temo di offuscarmi Non prestare orecchio alle menzogne Non farti soffocare dai maligni Non ti nutrire di invidie e gelosie In silenzio soffro i danni del tempo Le aquile non volano a stormi Vivo è il rimpianto della via smarrita Nell'incerto cammino del ritorno Seguo la guida degli antichi saggi Mi affido al cuore ed attraverso il male A chi confessi i tuoi segreti? Ferito al mattino a sera offeso Salta su un cavallo alato Prima che l'incostanza offuschi lo splendore In silenzio soffro i danni del tempo Le aquile non volano a stormi Vivo è il rimpianto della via smarrita Nell'incerto cammino del ritorno Shizukani tokino kizuni kurushimu Murewo kundewa tobanai taka Furuki oshiewo tadotte Kokoronomamani konokanashimiwo norikoete Le aquili non volano a stormi © 2004 Franco Battiato, Yashima Kinimori & Manlio Sgalambro The lyrics of "Le aquili non volano a stormi" are based on verses of the Chinese poet Qu Yuan, while the music is a reworking of "Tabida-chi" played by the Yoshida Brothers.

Days and months run quickly. The road is dark and uncertain and I fear obfuscating myself Don’t lend an ear to the falsehoods, don’t force yourself to suffocate on evils, don’t feed yourself envies and jealousies. In silence I suffer the damages of time – eagles don’t fly in flocks. Alive is the regret about the road not taken in the uncertain path of return. I follow the guide of the ancient wise ones, I trust my heart and cross over evil. To whom do you confess your secrets? Injured in the morning, evenings offended, jump on a winged horse before inconstancy obfuscates the splendor. In silence I suffer the damages of time, eagles don’t fly in flocks. Alive is the regret of the road not taken in the uncertain path of return. It is quietly wearing a crack Do you not end up murmuring? Following School of Evolution Leave this sadness as it is. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Ermeneutica - Hermeneutics

Eiacula precocemente l'impero Tornano i vecchi testamenti Gli stati mostri si avventano sui regimi fascisti Tensioni di tensioni di frustrazioni si manifestano Nel nostro seme si nascondono si riproducono germi di desideri infetti In my dreams I see you in a different way The emotional colours of life are changing completely Sometimes we need to expel our seed Where tensions of tensions hide Mostruosa creatura (human virus) Il suo nome è fanatismo Solo quando il sacro parla (human virus) L'eccelso prende forma (human virus is coming inside us) Deus est filius dei Tutte le macchine al potere gli uomini a pane ed acqua And what is cosmos? what is the meaning of the word? History is bunk Eiacula precocemente l'impero Ritorna il circolo dei combattenti Gli stati servi si inchinano a quella scimmia di presidente S'invade si abbatte si insegue si ammazza il cattivo Si inventano democrazie A monstrous creature its name fanaticism (human virus) When the consecrated word speaks Magnificence takes form And now I am far from you Now I’m far from you And now I am far from you Now I’m far from you Ermeneutica © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Ermeneutica" was written after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. While Battiato felt that it wasn't the role of music to address social questions, he was sufficiently indignant, as he was formerly when he wrote "Povera Patria," to speak out. The song takes its title from a philosophical term that means the theory and methodology of interpretation. Battiato said, "We can't accept certain insults to reason. These scoundrels want to pass on the idea that if they kill five Marines it's a massacre willed by the forces of evil, while it's fair to count up 15,000 innocent victims in Iraq or 10,000 in Afghanistan, because those are the enemy. We know the truth, we must shout that Bush is a lying criminal."

The empire ejaculates precociously, the old testaments return, the monster states pounce on the Fascist regimes. Tensions of tensions of frustrations manifest themselves; in our seed, germs of infected desires hide and reproduce themselves. In my dreams I see you in a different way. The emotional colours of life are changing completely. Sometimes we need to expel our seed where tensions of tensions hide. Monstrous creature (human virus) – its name is fanaticism. Only when the sacred speaks (human virus) does the exalted take form. (human virus is coming inside us) God is son of god. All the machines to power, the men to bread and water. And what is cosmos? what is the meaning of the word? History is bunk. The empire ejaculates precociously, the circus of combatants returns. The servant states bow down to that ape of a president, the bad is invaded, beaten down, followed, murdered, democracies are invented. A monstrous creature its name fanaticism (human virus). When the consecrated word speaks, magnificence takes form. And now I am far from you Now I’m far from you And now I am far from you Now I’m far from you English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Fortezza Bastiani - Fortress Bastiani

Resisterà alle dolci lusinghe la Fortezza Bastiani? Bugiardi imbonitori l'assediano Con violenze degne di Tamerlano Resisterò andando incontro al piacere Ascoltando il respiro trattenendo il calore Su un'altra forma d'onda intonerò il mio pensiero Ho camminato girando a vuoto Senza nessuna direzione Mi tiene immobile nei limiti L'ossessione dell'Io Mi ritrovai seduto su una panchina Al sole di febbraio Un magico pomeriggio dai riflessi d'oro E mi svegliai con l'aria di pioggia recente Che aveva lasciato frammenti di gioia Fortezza Bastiani © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Fortezza Bastiani" takes off from a line in Dino Buzzati's acclaimed 1940 novel The Tartar Steppe: "It amused me to describe this sheltering in defense against the rumors and the arrogance of the world." The violence of the 14th century conqueror Tamerlane (or Timur) was indeed intense - it is estimated that his military campaigns led to the death of 17 million people, about 5% of the world's population at the time.

Will the Fortress Bastiani resist the sweet flatteries? Fast-talking lies assault it with violence worthy of Tamerlane. I will resist, going against pleasure, listening to the breath, holding the heat. On another wave form I will intone my thought. I walked, wandering around without any direction. I hold myself unmoving within the limits, the obsession of the I. I found myself seated on a bench in the February sun, a magical afternoon by the reflections of gold, and I woke up with the air of recent rain that left fragments of joy. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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L'odore di polvere da sparo - The Smell of Gunpowder

È vero che sul Mar Nero sul mare nero Le rose fioriscono tre volte? E' vero che le colonne doriche Vanno in briciole e si sente parlare di distanze Per andare ad Alessandria d'Egitto? Fasto della vecchia Europa L'odore di polvere da sparo Sparso per quartieri mentre una banda Accompagna le reliquie della santa Impulsi religiosi dell'Occidente. Accidente Le truppe schierate di fronte A un ordine sparano i fucili Le prime file cadono a pioggia Il fumo si addensa al sudore (La parte sinistra di Baku Guardando il porto È la vendetta) L'odore di polvere da sparo Sparso per quartieri mentre una banda Accompagna le reliquie della santa Impulsi religiosi dell'Occidente. Accidente L'odore di polvere da sparo © 2004 Franco Battiato, Maurizio Arcieri & Manlio Sgalambro The music of "L'odore di polvere da sparo" was co-written with Maurizio Arcieri of the electronic music duo Krisma. What might seem like a bit of word play with Occident/Accident is actually a reference to Gurdjieff's Law of Accident, which states that man acts like a machine, subject to all manner of external influences.

Is it true that on the Black Sea, on the Black Sea, roses bloom three times? Is it true that the Doric columns turn to crumbs and you hear about distances to go to Alexandria of Egypt? Splendors of Old Europe, the smell of gunpowder scattered through neighborhoods while a band accompanies the Holy Relics - religious impulses of the Occident. Accident. The troops lined up at the front upon an order fire their rifles. The first rows fall down like rain, the smoke thickens on the sweat (the left part of Baku watching the port it’s the vendetta.). The smell of gunpowder scattered through neighborhoods while a band accompanies the Holy Relics - religious impulses of the Occident. Accident. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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I'm That

What glorious light Wisdom without bound Wrapt in eternal solitary shade The impenetrable gloom Of light intense Impervious inaccessible immense And brought light to the gods and mortal man My abstinence and renunciation left his heaven to me You are a hero you are what is ten times more We're come from stars’ cosmic nature Now we are destroying the future A real man Everything is good Inspired by love and wine The light which is in me Is now ablaze in me I come from the first chosen What joy to breathe the scent of open air Which die like the last rays of the sun No mortal man has lifted my veil I'm neither Muslim nor Hindu nor Christian nor Buddhist I'm not for the hammer neither for the sickle and even less for tricolor flame because I'm a musician The light which is in me Is now ablaze in me I come from the first chosen Which die like the last rays of the sun No mortal man has lifted my veil I'm That © 2004 Franco Battiato

Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro. The English lyrics in "I'm That" are taken from A Hymn to Narayena, published in 1785 by the Anglo-Welsh philologist and India scholar William Jones. Narayena is a Sanskrit name for the spirit of God which means "moving on water." The other vocalist is Cristina Scabbia of the goth metal band Lacuna Coil.

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Conforto alla vita - Solace to Life

Nella sventura non ti colga sgomento Per te non sorga il giorno Che alla tua gioia sia compenso di dolore Ah, quante volte un malefico vento ti colse Ma il soave profumo risaturò subito l'aria Il nembo spesso sovrastò minaccioso Ma fu disperso prima che dal grembo scuro Si scatenasse orribile tempesta Ah, quanto fumo si levò che non fu fiamma Sii forte e sereno anche nei giorni dell'avverso fato In un canneto un vento asciutto e svogliato Portava insieme confusi e inutili pensieri Ah, quante volte alzando gli occhi al cielo Spinte dalle correnti ho visto le nuvole vagare La sera insegna ad attendere il giorno Che arriva come sempre a chiudere i passaggi della notte Conforto alla vita © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro In "Conforta alla vita," Sgalambro elaborates on some concepts found in the work of the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder.

In misfortune, dismay doesn’t grab you. For you, a day doesn’t rise that your joy is remunerated with sadness. Ah, how many times an ill wind seized you but sweet perfume quickly resaturated the air. The rain cloud often towered menacingly but was dispersed before, from its dark womb, could erupt a terrible storm. Ah, how much smoke rose that wasn’t fire. Be strong and serene even in the days of adverse destiny. In a cane field a dry and listless wind brought together confused and useless thoughts. Ah, how many times, raising eyes to the sky, I saw clouds wandering, driven by currents. The evening teaches the day to attend, that arrives as always to close the passages of the night. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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23 coppie di cromosomi - 23 Copies of Chromosomes

La matematica è il tribunale del mondo. Il numero è ordine e disciplina. Ciò con cui si indica lo scopo della scienza, tradisce col termine la cosa. L'ordine già il termine ha qualcosa di bieco, che sa di polizia, adombra negli adepti le forze dell'ordine cosmico, i riti cosmici. L'autentico sentimento scientifico è impotente davanti all'universo. L'inflazione che caccia nelle mani dell'individuo, in un gesto solo, miliardi di marchi, lasciandolo più miserabile di prima, dimostra punto per punto che il denaro è un'allucinazione collettiva. To be a kangaroo To be a spider Metamorphosis is coming 23 coppie di cromosomi © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro The Italian text in "23 coppie di cromosomi" is an extract from Sgalambro's 1996 book La Morte del Sole (The Death of the Sun). The song begins with a clear musical nod to Karlheinz Stockhausen's seminal work "Gesang der Jünglinge im Feuerofen" ("Song of the Youths in the Furnace").

Mathematics is the courtroom of the world. The number is order and discipline. That with which is indicated the scope of science, it reveals with terms the thing. Order, already the term is somewhat sinister, it smacks of police, it overshadows in the followers the forces of cosmic order, the cosmic rites. The authentic scientific sentiment is impotent in front of the universe. The inflation that hunts in the hands of the individual, in a single gesture, billions of brands, leaving it more miserable than before, proves point by point that money is a collective hallucination. To be a kangaroo To be a spider Metamorphosis is coming English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Apparenza e realtà - Appearance and Reality

Atomi eterni Inalterabili e senza causa Wer die Natur retten will, wird sie verlieren Kein schüler zu sein und kein Meister zu können Ihr blaues blut Den sie noch mit der realität Über ruinen Soviel Schein, soviel sein Apparenza e realtà Soviel Schein, soviel sein Tempi tumultuosi e quindi resto confinato nella mia stanza Immobilizzato da così tanta lontananza al mondo Mi sento estraneo Wer die Natur retten will, wird sie verlieren Kein schüler zu sein und kein Meister zu können Soviel Schein, soviel sein Apparenza e realtà Soviel Schein, soviel sein Apparenza e realtà Apparenza e realtà © 2004 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro In "Apparenza e realtà" Battiato is joined by the electronic music duo Krisma. The song title references Appearance and Reality, the principle work of the British philosopher F. H. Bradley. As an adolescent, Sgalambro was passionate about Bradley's thinking.

Eternal atoms, inalterable and without cause. If you want to save nature, you will lose it. Not being a student and not being a master Her blue blood You still with the reality About ruins So much glow, so much being. Appearance and reality. So much glow, so much being. Tumultuous times and therefore I remain confined in my room. Immobilized by so much distance to the world, I feel foreign. If you want to save nature, you will lose it. Not being a student and not being a master. So much glow, so much being Appearance and reality So much glow, so much being Appearance and reality. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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La porta dello spavento supremo - The Door of the Supreme Fright

Quello che c'è ciò che verrà Ciò che siamo stati E comunque andrà Tutto si dissolverà Nell'apparenza e nel reale Nel regno fisico o in quello astrale Tutto si dissolverà Sulle scogliere fissavo il mare Che biancheggiava nell'oscurità Tutto si dissolverà Bisognerà per forza Attraversare alla fine La porta dello spavento supremo Il sogno . . . Il nulla emanava la pietra grigia E attorno campi di zafferano Passavano donne bellissime In sete altere ... Passavano donne bellissime In sete altere ... La porta dello spavento supremo © 2004 Franco Battiato, Manlio Sgalambro & Fleur Jaeggy In "La porta dello spavento supremo," Sgalambro and Battiato trade verses, written by Sgalambro in the first part and by Fleur Jaeggy in "The Dream." Battiato said that the song came directly from the Vedas, where "it is said that to pass into more elevated spheres you must abandon not only material reality, but also your memory."

That which is, what will come, what we were and in any case will go, everything will dissolve. In appearance and for real, in the physical realm or in the astral one, everything will dissolve. On the reefs I stared at the sea that whitened in obscurity – everything will dissolve. It will need perforce to cross over to the end – the door of the supreme fright. The dream . . . Nothingness emanated the gray rock and around fields of saphron beautiful women passed in proud silks. Beautiful women passed in proud silks. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Dieci stratagemmi - Attraversare il mare per ingannare il cielo was released in 2004. The title is a takeoff on the Chinese essay Thirty-Six Stratagems, which discusses strategies used in war and politics. The lyrics were mostly co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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