Per un basin - For a Kiss

Sabato sera di tanti anni fa Avevi faa on gir s'eri dree a tornà a cà Quando ho sentito ona musica andà Da on post ciamaa la Balera di Fraa Mi sono sentito qui dentro bruciare perchè... Ma alora gh'avevi vint ann Per on basin mi soo nò ma quella sera Avria daa la vita intera propri inscì Per on basin frin, frin Per on basin mi saria partii soldato Saria andato a Como in moto Poeu saria tornaa a cà a pee Ingresso "on franch" non è caro de bon De la giachetta me manca on botton Mi scappa l'occhio vesin ai calzon Te vedet nò che te gh'et su i scarpon Che cosa importa se già me ridevan adree Ormai se poeu puu tornà indree Per on basin mi soo nò ma quella sera Avria daa la vita intera propri inscì Per on basin frin, frin Per on basin mi saria partii soldato Saria andato a Como in moto Poeu saria tornaa a cà a pee Passa mezz'ora sonava 'l violin Contegno... Giò on alter bicer de vin Me guardi in gir gh'era tanti tosann Ma non è facile andà sù a ballà Mi s'eri sù e gh'avevi vergogna a cercà "Lei balla?" "Soltanto fox-trot" Per on basin mi soo nò ma quella sera Avria daa la vita intera propri inscì Per on basin frin, frin Per on basin mi saria partii soldato Saria andato a Como in moto Poeu saria tornaa a cà a pee Taca l'orchestra a sonà on polveron Tutti i moment la me guarda i scarpon On bell moment me son faa visin Lei, signorina, la me da on basin? Ferma l'orchestra, ghe riva anca i carabinier Gh'è vun che me 'l sgagna anca on pee Per on basin domandato quella sera M'hann casciaa da la balera M'hann trattaa come on vilan frin, fran Per on basin, roba senza risultato M'hann consciato in uno stato Se ricordi ancamò adess Lalalala... Per on basin, roba senza risultato M'hann consciato in uno stato Se ricordi ancamò adess Per un bacin © 1964 Enzo Jannacci

Saturday evening so many years ago I went out, I was returning home, when I heard music emanating from a place called “Friars Dance Hall.” I felt it burning here inside, because . . . but I was twenty, then. For a kiss, I dunno, but that evening I'd have given my entire life, just like that, for a kiss, frin frin; for a kiss I would have left as a soldier, I'd have gone to Como by motorcycle, then would've returned home on foot. Admission, one lira, it’s not very expensive. I’m missing a jacket button; my eyes looked down near my pants. “Don’t you see that you have boots on?” What’s it matter if they were already mocking me: there's no turning back now. For a kiss, I dunno, but that evening I'd have given my entire life, just like that, for a kiss, frin frin; for a kiss I would have left as a soldier, I'd have gone to Como by motorcycle, then would've returned home on foot. A half-hour passed, the violin played; restraint . . . down another glass of wine. I see myself out there, there were lots of girls, but it’s not easy to get out on the dance floor and dance: I was alone and ashamed to try. “Do you dance?” “Only the fox-trot.” For a kiss, I dunno, but that evening I'd have given my entire life, just like that, for a kiss, frin frin; for a kiss I would have left as a soldier, I'd have gone to Como by motorcycle, then would've returned home on foot. The orchestra attacked and played up a storm, she continued to look at my boots. At a certain point I did it, up close: “Miss, would you give me a kiss?” The orchestra stops, even the carabinieri arrived, there was one of them that even bit my foot . . . For a kiss requested that evening, they kicked me out of the dance hall, they treated me like a villain, frin fran. For a kiss, a thing that came to nothing, they beat me into a state . . . I remember it now still. For a kiss, a thing that came to nothing, they beat me into a state . . . I remember it now still. English translation © 2020 Dennis Criteser La milano di Enzo Jannacci was released in 1964. Most of the songs are in the local dialect of Milan. Jannacci studied music at the Milan Conservatory, and he subsequently fell in love with jazz, and played piano with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, and Chet Baker. He also was part of the early rock 'n' roll scene in Italy, playing in Adriano Celentano's Rock Boys in 1957 and then forming his own duo with Giorgio Gaber in 1959, I Due Corsari. He really found his artistic voice when he started performing at the famed Derby Club in Milan in 1963, collaborating with others (like Dario Fo) in a very vibrant and diverse creative scene. This first album, reflecting cabaret and French chanson influences, is a real gem and was followed by a couple dozen more over the subsequent decades.