Tanto pe' cantà - Just To Sing

Pe' fa la vita meno amara Me so' comprato 'sta chitara E quanno er sole scenne e more Me sento 'n core cantatore La voce e` poca ma 'ntonata Nun serve a fa 'na serenata Ma solamente a fa 'n maniera De famme 'n sogno a prima sera... Tanto pe' cantà Perché me sento un friccico ner core Tanto pe' sognà Perché ner petto me ce naschi 'n fiore Fiore de lillà Che m'ariporti verso er primo amore Che sospirava le canzoni mie E m'aritontoniva de bucie Canzoni belle e appassionate Che Roma mia m'aricordate Cantate solo pe' dispetto Ma co' 'na smania dentro ar petto Io nun ve canto a voce piena Ma tutta l'anima è serena E quanno er cielo se scolora De me nessuna se 'nnamora... Tanto pe' cantà Perché me sento un friccico ner core Tanto pe' sognà Perché ner petto me ce naschi un fiore Fiore de lillà Che m'ariporti verso er primo amore Che sospirava le canzoni mie E m'aritontoniva de bucie Tanto pe' cantà, 1932 Alberto Simeoni and Ettore Petrolini "Tanto pe' cantà" was the most successful song of the famous actor Ettore Petrolini. Sung in a way to parody the style of popular singers of the day, the song conveyed a youthful and carefree spirit, though ending with reference to a love soured by deceit. The song is a classic in the canzone romana tradition, became a hit for Nino Manfredi in 1970, and has been covered by many other singers. Ferri's version leaves out a spoken introduction.

To make life less bitter I bought myself this guitar, and when the sun goes down and dies I feel in my heart a singer. The voice is small but in tune. It’s no good to do a serenade, but only to do it so that it puts me in a dream during early evening. Just to sing, because I feel a tremor in my heart. Just to sing, because in my breast a flower is born, a lilac flower that takes me again towards my first love who sighed my songs and dazed me with lies. Beautiful and impassioned songs that my Rome recalled to me. Sing just for spite, but with a frenzy in the breast. I don’t sing to you in full voice, but my whole spirit is serene. And when the sky fades away, no one falls in love with me . . . Just to sing, because I feel a tremor in my heart. Just to sing, because in my breast a flower is born, a lilac flower that takes me again towards my first love, who sighed my songs and dazed me with lies. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Gabriella Ferri was released in 1970 and the lyrics of all but two of the songs were cowritten by Gabriella and her father Vittorio. The album attempted to combine more contemporary sounds and songs along with the traditional songs for which Ferri was well-known. Vittorio Ferri was a huge influence on Gabriella. He was a street vendor of sweets and razor blades, but fancied himself an artist. He was an excellent dancer and claimed to be the best in Rome, performing traditional dances like the saltarello. At home, he played the accordion and, with his wife on mandolin, sang traditional Roman songs, inducting both his daughters into the spirit and repertoire of canzone romano.