Cu 'mme

Scinne cu ‘mme nfonno o mare a truva’ chillo ca nun tenimmo acca’ vieni cu mme e accumincia a capi’ comme e’ inutile sta’ a suffri’ guarda stu mare ca ci infonne e paure sta cercanne e ce mbara’. Ah comme se fa’ a da’ turmiento all’anema ca vo’ vula’ si tu nun scinne a ffonne nun o puo’ sape’ no comme se fa’ adda piglia’ sultanto o mare ca ce sta’ eppoi lassa’ stu core sulo in miezz a via. Saglie cu ‘mme e accumincia a canta’ insieme e note che l’aria da’ senza guarda’ tu continua a vula’ mientre o viento ce porta la’ addo ce stanno e parole chiu’ belle che te pigliano pe mbara’. Ah comme se fa’ a da’ turmiento all’anema ca vo’ vula’ si tu nun scinne a ffonne nun o puo’ sape’ no comme se fa’ adda piglia’ sultanto o mare ca ce sta’ eppoi lassa’ stu core sulo in miezz a via Cu'mme © 1992 Enzo Gragnaniello "Cu 'mme" first appeared on the album Ottantavoglia di cantare by Roberto Murolo, as a duet with Mia Martini. It became a huge hit and has been covered by many other artists. My personal favorite is a live 2013 version with Gragnaniello and Pino Daniele, two old friends from their elementary school days in Naples.

Come down with me to the bottom of the sea to find that which we don’t have here. Come with me and begin to understand how useless it is to suffer. Look at this sea that instills fear, it’s trying to teach us. Ah, how is it possisble to torment the spirit that wants to fly? If you don’t descend to the bottom you can’t know how. No, how’s it done, to have to take only the sea that there is and then leave this heart alone in the middle of the way? Come up with me and begin to sing alongside the notes that the air gives. Without watching, you continue to fly while the wind carries us there, where there are the most beautiful words that grab you to learn. Ah, how is it possible to torment the spirit that wants to fly? If you don’t descend to the bottom you can’t know how. No, how is it possisble to have to take only the sea that there is and then leave this heart alone in the middle of the way? English translation © 2018 Dennis Criteser Roberto Murolo's 1992 album Ottantavoglia di cantare contained two songs penned by Enzo Gragnaniello. "Cu 'mme" was subsequently released as a single, and Gragnaniello recorded the song on his own 2003 album Cu' Mme'.