Leoncavallo

Le pareti (le pareti) del cervello (cervello, cervello) Non hanno (non hanno più, non hanno più) più finestre (finestre, finestre, finestre) Le pareti (le pareti) del cervello (cervello, cervello) Non hanno (non hanno più, non hanno più) più finestre (finestre, finestre, finestre) I colori (i colori, i colori) del buio (del buio, del buio, del buio) © 2014 Franco Battiato & Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola Leoncavallo is a social/cultural center in Milan founded in the turbulent 1970s when a number of workers and leftist groups occupied an abandoned warehouse. It currently hosts concerts, debates, and other cultural events. The song is composed in part from live concert material, including one presented near Leoncavallo.

The walls (the walls) of the brain (brain, brain) Don’t have (don’t have anymore) anymore windows (windows, windows, windows) The walls (the walls) of the brain (brain, brain) Don’t have (don’t have anymore) anymore windows (windows, windows, windows) The colors (the colors, the colors) of the darkness (darkness, darkness, darkness) English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Joe Patti's experimental group was released in 2014. It marks a return of the experimental, electronic-music side of Battiato, in collaboration with sound and mix engineer Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola. Joe Patti was Battiato's maternal uncle, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Six of the eleven tracks are instrumental only.

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Le voci si faranno presenze - Voices Will Make Themselves Presences

Sai sai sai Dire addio Ai ai ai Giorni felici Ascolta nel fondo dell'ombra Una visione ti viene incontro Un giorno senza tramonto Le voci si faranno presenze, presenze Le voci si faranno presenze © 2014 Franco Battiato & Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola "Le voci si faranno presenze" is a reworking of a ghost track found on the Fleurs album.

You know, you know, you know how to say farewell to the, to the, to the happy days. Listen in the depth of the shadow A vision comes to you A day without sunset Voices will make themselves presences, presences. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Joe Patti's experimental group was released in 2014. It marks a return of the experimental, electronic-music side of Battiato, in collaboration with sound and mix engineer Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola. Joe Patti was Battiato's maternal uncle, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Six of the eleven tracks are instrumental only.

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Come un branco di lupi - Like a Pack of Wolves

Come un branco di lupi che scende dagli altipiani ululando O uno sciame di api accanite divoratrici di petali odoranti Precipitano roteando come massi da altissimi monti in rovina Come un branco di lupi © 2014 Franco Battiato & Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola "Come un branco di lupi" is a reworking of "L'ignoto," with text taken from "Inneres Auge."

Like a pack of wolves that descends from the highlands howling, or a swarm of bees, fierce devourers of fragrant petals, they rain down, swwirling like masses from the highest mountains in ruin. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Joe Patti's experimental group was released in 2014. It marks a return of the experimental, electronic-music side of Battiato, in collaboration with sound and mix engineer Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola. Joe Patti was Battiato's maternal uncle, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Six of the eleven tracks are instrumental only.

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CERN

Ti porto con me segunda feira de Lisboa nel mio antico mare nell'Acqua occidentale, nel Mediterraneo affollato di navi e corpi d'ignudi nuotatori. Fanciulli con sguardo da fiere, gli occhi di lince dei Braganza, fissano il Nord. Sognando l'oltremare, come ghirlanda intrecciano una danza. Trago dentro do meu coracao, Todos lugares onde estive: A entrada de Singapura O coral das Maldivas Macao da noite, a uma hora. Segunda - feira de Lisboa, che nome d'incanto! Qui da noi é lunedì. Soltanto. CERN © 2014 Franco Battiato & Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola "CERN" uses lyrics from "Segunda feira." CERN is the European research organization that operates the largest particle physics lab in the world.

I carry you with me, Lisbon Monday, in my ancient sea, in the Western Waters, in the Mediterranean, crowded with ships and bodies of naked swimmers. Children with proud gaze, the eyes of the Braganza lynx, affix the north. Dreaming beyond the seas, like a garland they trace out a dance. I bring inside my heart, all the places I've been: the Singapore Inlet the Maldives Coral Macao at night, at one o'clock. Segunda-feira, such a name of enchantment! Here among us it’s Monday, merely. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Joe Patti's experimental group was released in 2014. It marks a return of the experimental, electronic-music side of Battiato, in collaboration with sound and mix engineer Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola. Joe Patti was Battiato's maternal uncle, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Six of the eleven tracks are instrumental only.

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L'Isola Elefante - Elephant Island

Stille Dämmerung Der Garten ist gefrohren Die Rosen erlitten, Sage mir warum. Stille Dämmerung Der Garten ist gefrohren Die Rosen erlitten. Sage mir warum. Sage mir warum, In einem verlorenen Garten Sage mir warum deine Stimme hören Sage mir warum schweige bitte nicht schweige bitte nicht L'Isola Elefante © 2014 Franco Battiato & Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola "L'Isola Elefante" is in part a reworking of music and lyrics from "Shakleton."

Silent twilight The garden is frozen The roses suffered, Tell me why. Silent twilight The garden is frozen The roses suffered, Tell me why. Tell me why In a lost garden Tell me why To hear your voice Tell me why Please don’t be silent Please don’t be silent English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Joe Patti's experimental group was released in 2014. It marks a return of the experimental, electronic-music side of Battiato, in collaboration with sound and mix engineer Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola. Joe Patti was Battiato's maternal uncle, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Six of the eleven tracks are instrumental only.

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Un irresistibile richiamo - An Irresistible Recall

Era magnifico quel tempo, com'era bello Quando eravamo collegati, perfettamente Al luogo e alle persone che avevamo scelto Prima di nascere Il tuo cuore è come una pietra coperta di muschio Niente la corrompe Il tuo corpo è colonna di fuoco affinchè Arda, e faccia ardere Le mie braccia si arrendono facilmente Le tue ossa non sentono dolore I minerali di cui siamo composti Tornano, ritornano all'acqua Un suono di campane Lontano, irresistibile, il richiamo Che invita alla preghiera del tramonto Gentile è lo specchio, guardo e vedo Che la mia anima ha un volto Ti saluto divinità della mia terra... Il richiamo mi invita Il tuo cuore è come una pietra coperta di muschio Niente la corrompe Il tuo corpo è colonna di fuoco affinchè Arda, e faccia ardere Un suono di campane Lontano, irresistibile, il richiamo Che invita alla preghiera del tramonto Un suono di campane Lontano, irresistibile, il richiamo Che invita alla preghiera del tramonto Un irresistibile richiamo © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro

It was magnificent that time, how beautiful, when we were connected, perfectly, to the place and the people we had chosen before being born. Your heart is like a rock covered in moss, nothing breaks it. Your body is a column of fire so that it burns, and makes burn. My arms surrender easily. Your bones feel no pain. The minerals we’re composed of go back and return to the water. A bell sound, distant, irresistible, the call that invites to evening prayer. Friendly is the mirror, I look and see that my spirit has a face. I salute you divinity of my land . . . The call invites me. Your heart is like a rock, covered in moss, nothing breaks it. Your body is a column of fire so that it burns, and makes burn. A bell sound, distant, irresistible, the call that invites to evening prayer. A bell sound, distant, irresistible, the call that invites to evening prayer. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Testamento - Will and Testament

Lascio agli eredi l'imparzialità, la volontà di crescere e capire Uno sguardo feroce e indulgente, per non offendere inutilmente Lascio i miei esercizi sulla respirazione Cristo nei Vangeli parla di reincarnazione Lascio agli amici gli anni felici, delle più audaci riflessioni La libertà reciproca di non avere legami ... e mi piaceva tutto della mia vita mortale Anche l'odore che davano gli asparagi all'urina We never died, we were never borne! We never died, we were never borne! Il tempo perduto chissà perchè, non si fa mai riprendere I linguaggi urbani si intrecciano e si confondono nel quotidiano "Fatti non foste per viver come bruti, ma per seguire virtude e conoscenza"... L'idea del visibile alletta, la mia speranza aspetta Appese a rami spogli, gocce di pioggia si staccano con lentezza, mentre una gazza, in cima ad un cipresso, guarda Peccato che io non sappia volare, ma le oscure cadute nel buio Mi hanno insegnato a risalire E mi piaceva tutto della mia vita mortale, noi non siamo mai morti, e non siamo mai nati We never died, we were never borne! We never died, we were never borne! Testamento © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Testamento" includes a quote from the 26th Canto of Dante's Inferno.

I leave to the inheritors impartiality, the will to grow and to understand. An outlook fierce and forgiving, so as not to needlessly offend. I leave my exercises on breathing. Christ in the Gospels talks of reincarnation. I leave to my friends the happy years, of the most bold reflections, the mutual freedom to not have ties . . . and I liked all of my mortal life, even the smell that asparagus gives to urine. We never died, we were never borne! We never died, we were never borne! Time lost, who knows why, is never regained. Urban languages interweave and confound in the daily newspaper. “You weren’t born to live like animals, but to follow virtue and awareness” . . . The idea of the visible relishes, my hope awaits. Hanging down from stripped branches, drops of rain fall off sluggishly, while a magpie, at the top of a cypress, watches. Too bad I don’t know how to fly, but the obscure falls in the dark taught me to rise up. And I liked all of my mortal life. We don’t ever die, and we are never born. We never died, we were never borne! We never died, we were never borne! English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Quand'ero giovane - When I Was Young

Quand'ero giovane andavo a letto tardi, sempre, vedevo l'alba Dormivo di giorno e mi svegliavo nel pomeriggio... ed era sera, Era già sera La notte, non mi piace tanto, l'oscurità è ostile a chi ama la luce Si accavallano i giorni come onde, ci sovrastano Le cattive notizie, in questi tempi di forti tentazioni Ci sommergono Dobbiamo seguire la nostra coscienza e le sue norme Viva la Gioventù, che fortunatamente passa Senza troppi problemi Vivere è un dono che ci ha dato il Cielo Uscendo dai locali, mi capitava di vedere code di macchine, sostare Al Parco Ravizza o al Monumentale. La merce era il sesso Compravano sesso, e spesso diverso Viva la Gioventù, che fortunatamente passa Senza troppi problemi Vivere è un dono che ci ha dato il Cielo Andavamo a suonare nelle sale della Lombardia, e c'era un'atmosfera eccezionale, la domenica, di pomeriggio, in quelle Balere, si divertivano a ballare, operai e cameriere Era passata un'altra settimana Quand'ero giovane © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro

When I was young, I went to bed late, always, I saw the dawn. I slept by day and woke up in the afternoon . . . and it was evening, it was evening already. The night, I don’t like it so much, the darkness is hostile to one who loves light. The days overlap like waves, overwhelming us. The bad news, in these times of strong temptations submerges us. We have to follow our conscience and its norms. Long live Youth, which fortunately passes without too many problems. Living is a gift that Heaven has given us. Going out to the local spots, I happened to see queues of cars, pausing at Ravizza Park or at Monumentale. The merchandise was sex, they were buying sex, and often different. Long live Youth, that fortunately passes without too many problems. Living is a gift that Heaven has given us. We went to play in the halls of Lombardy and there was an exceptional atmosphere, Sundays, in the afternoon, in those dance halls, they enjoyed dancing, workers and waiters. Another week had passed. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Eri con me - You Were With Me

Siamo detriti, relitti umani, trascinati da un fiume in piena Che non conosce soste nè destinazione La nostra mente, le nostre azioni, sono la 'causa', gli effetti Invece, il nostro destino Ciò che deve accadere, accadrà, qualunque cosa facciamo per evitarlo, ciò che deve accadere, accadrà Perchè è già accaduto! Eri con me, ma io non ero con te Sei con me, ma io non sono con te Ero con te, ma tu non eri con me Viviamo nell'impermanenza, nell'incertezza della vita condizionata, ma ci ricorderemo di noi segretamente Arriverà il giorno atteso a schiudere gli impediti passaggi Prepariamoci a nuove esistenze... Eri con me, ma io non ero con te Sei con me, ma io non sono con te Ero con te, ma tu non eri, non eri, con me Eri con me © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Eri con me" was written for Alice's 2012 album Samsara. Battiato presents it here with a different arrangement.

We are detritus, human wreckage, swept by a river full that knows no breaks nor destination. Our mind, our actions, are the “cause.” The effects, instead, our destiny, that which should happen, will happen no matter what we do to avoid it. That which should happen, will happen, because it already happened! You were with me, but I wasn’t with you. You are with me, but I am not with you. I was with you, but you weren’t with me. We live in impermanence, in the uncertainty of conditioned life, but we will remember ourselves secretly. The long-anticipated day will come to pry open the blocked passages. Let’s prepare for new existences . . . You were with me, but I wasn’t with you. You are with me, but I am not with you. I was with you, but you weren’t with me. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Passacaglia

Ah, come ti inganni Se pensi che gli anni Non han da finire È breve il gioire .... I sani gli infermi I bravi, gli inermi È un sogno la vita Che par si gradita... Vorrei tornare indietro Per rivedere il passato Per comprendere meglio Quello che abbiamo perduto Viviamo in un mondo orribile... Siamo in cerca Di un' esistenza.... La gente è crudele E spesso infedele Nessun si vergogna Di dire menzogne I giovani, i putti Gli uomini tutti Non vale fuggire Si plachi l'ardire Vorrei tornare indietro Per rivedere gli errori Per accelerare Il mio processo interiore Ero in quinta elementare Entrai Per caso Nella mia esistenza Fatta di giorni allegri E di continue esplorazioni E trasformazioni dell'Io... Ah, come ti inganni Se pensi che gli anni Non han da finire È breve il gioire .... Vorrei tornare indietro Nella mia casa d'origine Dove vivevo prima di arrivare qui sulla Terra Entrai, per caso Nella mia esistenza Di antiche forme Di insegnamenti E trasformazioni dell'Io E trasformazioni dell'Io... © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro "Passacaglia" is an adaptation of "Passacaglia della vita," by Stefano Landi, an early 17th-century Italian composer. A passacaglia is a musical form developed in the 17th century and used continuously since then.

Ah, how you fool yourself if you think that the years don’t have to end. It’s brief, the rejoicing . . . The healthy, the infirm, the good, the defenseless – it’s a dream, life that seems welcome . . . I would like to turn back to review the past, to comprehend better that which we have lost. We live in a horrible world . . . We are in search of an existence . . . People are cruel and often unfaithful. No one is ashamed to speak falsehoods – the young, the cherubs, all the men. It’s not worth it to flee, the daring subsides. I would like to turn back, to review the errors, to accelerate my interior process. I was in fifth grade, I entered by chance into my existence made up of happy days and constant explorations and transformations of the “I” . . . Ah, how you deceive yourself if you think that the years don’t have to end. It’s brief the rejoicing . . . I would like to turn back to my house of origins where I lived before arriving here on Earth. I entered, by chance, into my existence of ancient forms, of instructions, and transformations of the “I,” and transformations of the “I” . . . English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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La polvere del branco - The Dust of the Herd

Do you know Tulku Urgyen? Have you ever heard of this? Do you know the Seekers of the Truth? Have you ever heard of this? Ci crediamo liberi, ma siamo prigionieri, di case invadenti che ci abitano e ci rendono impotenti Ci crediamo liberi, ma siamo prigionieri che remano su navi inesistenti Si solleva la polvere del branco accanita e misteriosa Ci crediamo liberi, ma siamo schiavi, milioni di milioni di ombre sperdute Rumorosi andiamo per le strade alzando solo polvere Millions of shadows walking into nothingness Ti dico che nulla mi inquieta, ma tu mi dai sui nervi Ho voglia di appartarmi e di seguire la mia sorte, perchè morire è come un sogno Pura, Inaccessibile, Avvolta in una Eterna Ombra solitaria Oscurità Impenetrabile, Intensa, Impervia, Immensa... Ha dato vita agli Dei, nessun uomo ha mai sollevato il suo Velo .... millions and millions of shadows La polvere della branca © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro

Do you know Tulku Urgyen? Have you ever heard of this? Do you know the Seekers of the Truth? Have you ever heard of this? We believe ourselves free, but we’re prisoners, of invasive houses that inhabit us and render us impotent. We believe ourselves free, but we’re prisoners who row on non-existent boats. Up rises the dust of the herd, fierce and mysterious. We believe ourselves free, but we’re slaves, millions of millions of lost shadows, noisy we go about on the streets, raising only dust. Millions of shadows walking into nothingness. I tell you that nothing perturbs me, but you, you get on my nerves. I desire to remove myself and to follow my destiny, because dying is like a dream. Pure, Inaccessible, wrapped in a solitary Eternal Shadow, Impenetrable Obscurity, Intense, Impervious, Immense . . . It gave life to the Gods, not one human has ever lifted its Veil. . . . millions and millions of shadows. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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Caliti junku - Make Like the Rushes

Che farò senza Euridice, dove andrò senza il mio bene... Che farò, dove andrò, che farò senza il mio bene 'Per aspera ad Astra', le asperità conducono alle Stelle Un antico detto, cinese o tibetano, forse arabo-siciliano, dice così: Caliti junku 'ca passa la China, Caliti junku, da sira 'a matina Milioni di anni luce, la legge che esprime si illumina di cielo "mindfulness", la forma è sostanza, mentre il vento mi porta improvvise allegrie Caliti junku 'ca passa la china, caliti junku, da sira 'a matina, caliti junku Do you see the dramatic escalation of violence? The world outside is insane, it's full of evils Without wasting time, we take refuge In the empty Essence caliti junku, da sira 'a matina, caliti junku Caliti junku © 2012 Franco Battiato & Manlio Sgalambro The words "caliti junku" come from a saying in the Sicilian dialect that means something like "don't set yourself against an obstacle, but rather yield and be bent until it no longer represents a danger."

What will I do without Eurydice, where will I go without my own good? What will I do, where will I go, what will I do without my own good? “Per aspera ad Astra,” (Paracelsus) hardships lead to the stars. An ancient saying, Chinese or Tibetan, perhaps Arab-Sicilian, says thus: Make like the rushes, here passes the high tide. Make like the rushes, from evening ‘til morning. Millions of light years, the law that expresses is lit by the sky, “mindfulness,” form is substance, while the wind brings me sudden joys. Make like the rushes, here passes the high tide. Make like the rushes, from evening ‘til morning. Make like the rushes. Do you see the dramatic escalation of violence? The world outside is insane, it's full of evils. Without wasting time, we take refuge in the empty Essence. Make like the rushes, from evening ‘til morning. Make like the rushes. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Apriti sesamo was released in 2012. The lyrics were co-written by Battiato and the Sicilian philosopher Manlio Sgalambro.

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