Cara maestra - Dear Schoolmarm

Cara maestra Un giorno m'insegnavi Che a questo mondo noi Noi siamo tutti uguali Ma quando entrava in classe il direttore Tu ci facevi alzare tutti in piedi E quando entrava in classe il bidello Ci permettevi di restar seduti Mio buon curato Dicevi che la chiesa È la casa dei poveri Della povera gente Però hai rivestito la tua Chiesa Di tende d'oro e marmi colorati: Come può adesso un povero che entra Sentirsi come fosse a casa sua? Egregio sindaco M' hanno detto che un giorno Tu gridavi alla gente "vincere o morire" Ora vorrei sapere come mai Vinto non hai, eppure non sei morto E al posto tuo è morta tanta gente Che non voleva né vincere né morire? Cara maestra © 1962 Luigi Tenco "Cara maestra" is a protest song with a light touch, pointing out certain hypocrisies in people, the church, and the state. Due to its explicit criticism of the church, the song ran into problems with the Italian commission of censors, who called it a "political rally."

Dear schoolmarm, one day you taught me that in the world we, we are all equal. But when the director entered the class you made us all stand up, and when the custodian entered the class you let us remain seated. My good curate, you said that the church is the home of the impoverished, of the poor people. But you decorated your Church with gold curtains and colored marble: how can now a poor person who enters feel like it was their house? Dear mayor, they told me that one day you shouted at the people, “Win or die.” Now I would like to know how come you didn’t win, yet you’re not dead, and in your place so many people died who neither wanted to win nor to die? English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser Luigi Tenco was Tenco's first solo album, released in 1962 after a handful of singles that came out from 1959-1961. The songs have a very 1950s feel, with smooth and sophisticated orchestral arrangements typical of those crafted for other early-1960s crooners.