Tesoro ma è vero - Treasure, But Is It True?

Tesoro, tesoro, ma è vero che il mare è d’argento Quando c’è la luna, nelle notti d’estate Ma cambia colore in un solo momento Se il cielo si copre in queste serate? Tesoro, ma è vero che le nuvole sono Sono come l’ovatta, sono come la neve Somigliano a volte ad un viso, ad una mano Se poi vola un angelo, subito piove? Tesoro, ma è vero che quando ad oriente Il cielo ad un tratto si rasserena E basta vedere una stella cadente Che porta fortuna, che porta fortuna? Dio, Dio, che hai fatto l’uomo uguale a te Sono tua figlia come gli altri e perciò Ti chiedo solo: “Come mai mi vuoi così?” Dio, oh Dio, grazie lo stesso perché tu Mi hai tolto tanto e poi mi hai dato lui E non m'importa se vedrò con gli occhi suoi Tesoro, ti prego, prendi la mano Riportami a casa, si è fatto ormai tardi Tesoro, tesoro, tesoro ti amo Vuoi dirmi qualcosa, lo sento, mi guardi Dio, oh Dio Scendeva la notte sul suo giuramento Scendeva la luce sul suo domani Ma poi le parole son preda del vento E lui m'ha lasciata, che Dio lo perdoni Tesoro, ma è vero © 1971 Antonello De Sanctis and Piero Pintucci "Tesoro, ma è vero" tells of a blind woman who sees through the eyes of her lover, and then despairs when that lover leaves.

Treasure, my treasure, but is it true the sea is silvery when the moon is out, in the nights of summer? But does it change color in a single moment if the sky clouds over on these evenings? Treasure, but is it true the clouds are, they’re like puff cotton, they’re like the snow? Do they resemble sometimes a face, a hand? Then if an angel flies, does it rain right away? Treasure, but is it true that when, to the east, the sky suddenly clears and you just have to see a falling star, that it brings good luck, that it brings good luck? Lord, Lord, you who made man your equal, I am your daughter like the others, and so I just ask of you, “How come you want me this way?” Lord, oh Lord, thanks all the same because you, you took so much from me and then you gave me him, and never mind if I will see with his eyes. Treasure, I pray you, take my hand, bring me back home, it’s gotten late already. Treasure, treasure, treasure, I love you. You want to tell me something, I feel it, look at me, Lord, oh Lord. Nighttime descended on his vow, light descended on his tomorrow. But then words are prey to the wind, and he left me, Lord forgive him. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Oltre la collina (Beyond the Hill) was Mia Martini's debut album, as well as the debut of her nom de plum (she was born Domenica Rita Adriana Bertè and her previous singles were released under Mimì Bertè). The album treats a number of heavy topics - suicide, spirituality, sexual violence, illness - and Italy wasn't ready for an album so direct, emotionally honest, and dark. The album suffered poor sales, but stands out as a bold statement and testament to Martini's lifelong desire to sing only material that she could personally connect with. She was, at the time, a sort of Gypsy-hippie recreating herself and escaping from the emotional subjugation that traditional southern Italian culture could inflict on women.