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Si muove la palla salta rimbalza oscilla saltella cade si rialza scivola ondeggia s’immerge galleggia si gonfia si dilata si schiaccia si comprime E’ inutile inutile inutile Com’è grande e vuota e bianca e molle tenera leggera lieve piena d’aria trasparente fragile tonda liscia levigata plasmabile umida viscida inutile inutile inutile Non è niente di speciale e non è poi tanto strana ha una vita quasi umana con le sue difficoltà Non ha neanche un gran valore non pretende quasi niente e si vende facilmente senza troppa dignità Si, si certo come vuole lei, come desidera. Solo se mi consente, volevo dire una cosa, una soltanto. Ah no. Non c’è niente da dire, ha ragione mi scusi. Comunque disponga pure di me, quando vuole. Ah ah ah ah, buona questa ah ah ah ah ah Ma tu dimmi non lo sai quanto schifo che ti fai Si muove l’uomo salta rimbalza oscilla saltella cade si rialza scivola ondeggia si immerge galleggia si gonfia si dilata si schiaccia si comprime E’ inutile inutile inutile Com’è grande e vuoto e docile fragile ubbidiente riflessivo indifeso inoffensivo debole meschino vigliacco inchinato prostrato sudato consenziente affaticato Inutile inutile inutile un uomo inutile inutile inutile Una palla inutile © 1971 - Giorgio Gaber (music, lyrics) and Sandro Luporini (lyrics) |
The ball moves jumps bounces oscillates hops falls rises again slips undulates plunges floats fills up expands gets squashed is compressed. It’s useless useless useless How big it is and empty and white and soft tender light slight full of air transparent fragile round smooth polished pliable wet slippery Useless useless useless It’s nothing special and isn’t then so strange it has an almost human life with its difficulties. It also has no great value it doesn’t pretend to be hardly anything and it’s easily sold without too much dignity. Yes, yes, sure, as you wish, as you desire. Only if I may, I wanted to say one thing, just one. Ah, no. There’s nothing to say, you’re right, excuse me. Anyway, just dispose of me, when you want. Ah ah ah ah, good this ah ah ah ah ah But you tell me you don’t know how disgusting you are. Man moves jumps bounces oscillates hops falls rises again slips undulates plunges floats fills up expands gets squashed is compressed. He’s useless useless useless How big he is and empty and docile fragile obedient reflective helpless inoffensive weak petty cowardly bowed down prostrate sweaty acquiescent weary Useless useless useless a man useless useless useless a useless ball English translation © 2024 Dennis Criteser I borghesi (The Bourgeoisie) is a studio recording released in December, 1971. It includes songs that were presented in Gaber's second annual theatrical tour in 1972. |
I began exploring Italian popular songs as part of learning Italian. Here are my translations for some of my favorite "canzoni" by Italian singers, songwriters, and bands whose work I admire. It's a work in progress that can serve as a curated introduction to Italian popular music, with an emphasis on the 1950s through the 1990s. If you speak Italian, send me a message if you see lyrics I've misunderstood.
