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Sapore di sale Sapore di mare Che hai sulla pelle Che hai sulle labbra Quando esci dall'acqua E ti vieni a sdraiare Vicino a me Vicino a me Sapore di sale Sapore di mare Un gusto un po' amaro Di cose perdute Di cose lasciate Lontano da noi Dove il mondo è diverso Diverso da qui Qui il tempo è dei giorni Che passano pigri E lasciano in bocca Il gusto del sale Ti butti nell'acqua E mi lasci a guardarti E rimango da solo Nella sabbia e nel sole Poi torni vicino E ti lasci cadere Così nella sabbia E nelle mie braccia E mentre ti bacio Sapore di sale Sapore di mare Sapore di te Qui il tempo è dei giorni Che passano pigri E lasciano in bocca Il gusto del sale Ti butti nell'acqua E mi lasci a guardarti E rimango da solo Nella sabbia e nel sole Poi torni vicino E ti lasci cadere Così nella sabbia E nelle mie braccia E mentre ti bacio Sapore di sale Sapore di mare Sapore di te Sapore di sale © 1963, Gino Paoli Paoli wrote "Sapore di sale" while staying in an empty house near the beach in Capo d'Orlanda, Sicily, where he and his band were playing in a local club. The song came to him in a flash, capturing the carefree joy of summertime with shades of melancholy that only a Genovese could express. |
Taste of salt, taste of sea that you have on your skin, that you have on your lips when you come out from the water and you come stretch out next to me, next to me. Taste of salt, taste of sea, a flavor slightly bitter of things lost, of things left far from us where the world is different, different from here. Here, time is some days that pass lazy and leave in the mouth the flavor of salt. You throw yourself into the water and leave me to watch you, and I remain alone in the sand and in the sun. Then you come back close and let yourself fall thus in the sand and in my arms, and while I kiss you, taste of salt, taste of sea, taste of you. Here, time is some days that pass lazy and leave in the mouth the flavor of salt. You throw yourself into the water and leave me to watch you, and I remain alone in the sand and in the sun. Then you come back close and let yourself fall thus in the sand and in my arms, and while I kiss you, taste of salt, taste of sea, taste of you. English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser "Sapore di sale" was released as a single in 1963 and then included on his third album Basta chiudere gli occhi in 1964. The song became not only a #1 hit, but perhaps the best-known of all of Gino Paoli's songs, an enduring classic for the many Italians who hit the beaches every summer for some escape and renewal. Ennio Morricone arranged the music and Gato Barbieri provided the sax solo. |
I began exploring Italian popular songs as part of learning Italian. Here are my translations for some of my favorite "canzoni" by Italian singers, songwriters, and bands whose work I admire. It's a work in progress that can serve as a curated introduction to Italian popular music, with an emphasis on the 1950s through the 1990s. If you speak Italian, send me a message if you see lyrics I've misunderstood.
