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La più bella sei tu-u, il tuo nome è Lilì-ì. Spettinata così-ì, tu mi piaci di più… Oh no! Cara, resta sempre così (mia). Non tagliarti i capelli, non truccarti di più. Amore, ma tu (dolce) hai deciso così (mia) di vestirti di rosso, di chiamarti Jijì. Vivi così, tra boutiques e caffè, mangi roast beef, bevi solo frappé. Ma perché? Oh no! Cara, resta sempre così (mia), col musetto pulito, col tuo nome Lilì-ì. La più bella sei tu-u, spettinata così-ì. Buonanotte Lilì! Vivi così, tra boutiques e caffè, mangi roast beef, bevi solo frappé. Ma perché? Oh no! Cara, resta sempre così (mia), col musetto pulito, col tuo nome Lilì-ì. La più bella sei tu-u, spettinata così-ì. Com’è bella Lilì, dolce dolce. Tu sei la più bella di tutte perché… perché sei così. No, no no no no no no no no, non tagliarti i capelli, ti prego. Bella, bella bella bella, così, mia, mia mia mia mia mia mia. No no, senza rossetto, senza cipria, senza niente, così, con la faccia lavata. Bella… bella… Buonanotte Lilì! "Musetto" © 1955 Domenico Modugno Modugno wrote "Musetto" as a light-hearted message to his wife. He preferred her more au naturel and didn't want to see her become Americanized (using words like "roast beef" and "frappé"). |
The prettiest is you, your name is Lilì. Unkempt this way, I like you the most . . . Oh no! Sweetheart, stay always like this (mine). Don’t cut your hair, don’t put more makeup on. Love, but you (sweet) decided like that (mine) to dress in red, to call yourself Jijì. You live this way, between boutiques and cafes, you eat roast beef, you drink only frappes. But why? Oh no! Sweetheart, stay always like this (mine), with a clean little face, with your name Lilì. The prettiest is you, unkempt this way. Good night Lilì. You live this way, between boutiques and cafes, you eat roast beef, you drink only frappes. But why? Oh no! Sweetheart, stay always like this (mine), with a clean little face, with your name Lilì. The prettiest is you, unkempt this way. How pretty Lilì, sweet, sweet. You’re the prettiest of all because . . . because you are this way. No, no no no no no no no no, don’t cut your hair, I beg of you. Pretty, pretty pretty pretty, this way, mine, mine mine mine mine mine mine. No no, no lipstick, no face powder, without anything, this way, with the washed face. Pretty . . . pretty . . . goodnight Lilì! English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser "Musetto" is the A-side of the last single for the label RCA Italia, released in 1955. |
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.
