Il ragazzo della via Gluck - The Kid from Gluck Way

Questa è la storia di uno di noi Anche lui nato per caso in via Gluck In una casa fuori città Gente tranquilla che lavorava Là dove c'era l'erba ora c'è una città E quella casa in mezzo al verde ormai Dove sarà? Questo ragazzo della via Gluck Si divertiva a giocare con me Ma un giorno disse vado in città E lo diceva mentre piangeva Io gli domando amico non sei contento Vai finalmente a stare in città Là troverai le cose che non hai avuto qui Potrai lavarti in casa senza andar giù nel cortile Mio caro amico disse qui sono nato E in questa strada ora lascio il mio cuore Ma come fai a non capire È una fortuna per voi che restate A piedi nudi a giocare nei prati Mentre là in centro io respiro il cemento Ma verrà il giorno che ritornerò ancora qui E sentirò l'amico treno che fischia così Passano gli anni ma otto son lunghi Però quel ragazzo ne ha fatta di strada Ma non si scorda la sua prima casa Ora coi soldi lui può comperarla Torna e non trova gli amici che aveva Solo case su case catrame e cemento Là dove c'era l'erba ora c'è una città E quella casa in mezzo al verde ormai Dove sarà? Non so, non so, perché continuano a costruire le case E non lasciano l'erba, non lasciano l'erba Non lasciano l'erba, non lasciano l'erba E no se andiamo avanti così Chissà come si farà, chissà, chissà, come si farà Il ragazzo della via Gluck © 1966 Lyrics: Luciano Beretta, Miki Del Prete; Music: Adriano Celentano Celentano grew up on Via Gluck on the outskirts of Milan, next to the rail line. In the postwar years, the neighborhood changed dramatically due to the urbanization and modernisation that came with Italy's economic miracle. "Il ragazzo della via Gluck" was first published as a single, following its failure to gain traction at the San Remo song festival of 1966, and its success took Celentano by surprise - it reached second place in the hit parade of both '66 and '67. The song marks a turning point for Celentano away from the exuberant rock 'n' roll of his previous 8 years (note the reference in the 4th verse), taking on somewhat more serious subject matter - songs about the environment will figure regularly in his subsequent output.

This is the story of one of us, also born by chance on Gluck Way, in a house outside of town. Tranquil folk who worked there where there was grass, now there’s a city, and that house in the middle of green, now where might it be? This kid from Gluck Way had fun playing with me, but one day he said, “I’m going to the city,” and he said it while crying. I ask him, “Friend, you aren’t content, you’re finally going to stay in the city. There you’ll find things you haven’t had here, you can wash up inside without going down to the courtyard.” My dear friend said, “I was born here, and on this street now I’m leaving my heart. But how do you not understand, it’s a blessing for you who remain, to play barefoot in the fields, while there downtown I breathe the cement. But a day will come when I’ll come back here again, and I’ll hear the friendly train that blows just so.” The years pass, eight long ones, but that kid got around. But he didn’t forget his first house. Now with his money he can buy it. He returns not to find the friends he had, only houses upon houses, tar and cement. There where there was grass, now there’s a city, and that house in the middle of green, now where might it be? I don’t know, I don’t know, why they continue to build the houses and don’t leave the grass, they don’t leave the grass, they don’t leave the grass, they don’t leave the grass, and no, if we move ahead like this, who knows how it will be done, who knows, who knows, how it will be done. English translation © 2021 Dennis Criteser Il ragazzo della via Gluck is the second album on Celentano's Clan Celentano label, released in 1966 primarily to capitalize on the success of the single.