Scalinatèlla - Little Stairs

Scalinatèlla Longa longa longa longa Strettulélla, strettulélla Addó' sta chella 'nnammuratèlla? Nun spónta ancora... Zuc zuc zuc zuc: Zucculillo, zucculillo Pe' 'sta viarèlla scarrupatèlla! Addó' mme ne vogl'í, to ddico...e crídeme... Addó' se ne pò ghí chi è stanco 'e chiágnere?! Scalinatèlla Saglie 'ncielo o scinne a mare Cercammélla, trovammélla Pòrtame a chella sciaguratèlla! Chella s'è 'nnammurata 'e nu pittore Ca pitta Capre e parla furastiero... E i' porto 'mpiétto nu dulore 'e core E sento che mm'accide stu penziero! Scalinatèlla Longa longa longa longa Strettulélla, strettulélla Addó' sta chella 'nnammuratèlla? Nun spónta ancora... Zuc zuc zuc zuc: Zucculillo, zucculillo Pe' 'sta viarèlla scarrupatèlla! Addó' mme ne vogl'í, to ddico...e crídeme... Addó' se ne pò ghí chi è stanco 'e chiágnere?! Scalinatèlla Saglie 'ncielo o scinne a mare Cercammélla trovammélla Pòrtame a chella sciaguratèlla! A ghiuorne a ghiuorne parte nu vapore... A ghiuorne 'ammore mio se vótta a mare! Lyrics by Enzo Bonagura, music by Giuseppe Cioffi, 1948

Little stairs long long long long, a little tight, a little tight, where is that little sweetheart? She doesn’t appear yet . . . bac bac bac bac: a little backed up, a little backed up, for this ruined little road! Where do I want to go, I tell you . . . and believe me . . . where can one go who is tired of crying?! Little stairs you rise up to the sky or go down to the sea, look for her for me, find her for me, take me to that little misfortune! She fell in love with a painter who paints Capri and talks like a foreigner . . . and I carry in my chest a heartache and I feel that this thought is killing me. Little stairs long long long long, a little tight, a little tight, where is that little sweetheart? She doesn’t appear yet . . . bac bac bac bac: a little backed up, a little backed up, for this ruined little road! Where do I want to go, I tell you . . . and believe me . . . where can one go who is tired of crying?! Little stairs you rise up to the sky or go down to the sea, look for her for me, find her for me, take me to that little misfortune! In a few days, a steamship departs . . . in a few days, my love throws herself into the sea! English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser The tradition of Neapolitan songs has its roots in the 13th century, and came into full bloom in the period from 1830-1950, when an annual song competition would honor the best song each year. Between 1963 and 1965, Roberto Murolo released a 12-album anthology of Neapolitan songs ranging from 1200 through the early 1960s. Volume 9 includes songs from 1940 to 1950.