Agata - Agatha

Io mme metto 'o steccadente in bocca pe' nun fumá... Nun ce veco e nun mm'accatto 'e llente pe' sparagná... Vivo solo col mensile d'impiegato comunale, spacco 'a lira, spacco 'o soldo, spacco pure 'o "duje centè'"... Spacco 'e scarpe e nun mm'accatto Pe' te fa fà lusso a tte e tu invece te la intendi col padrone di un caffè?! Agata! Tu mi capisci? Agata! Tu mi tradisci! Agata! Guarda! Stupisci... Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te! Mm'accattaje nu cappelluccio tuosto tre anne fa... E, 'a tre anne, 'o tengo sempe 'ncapa... Nun c'è che fá... Stu vestito grigio scuro, s'è cambiato di colore... Mo s'è fatto verde chiaro: Era n'abito 'e papá... E mm'ha ditto 'o cusetore: "Nun 'o pòzzo arrevutá: ll'aggio troppo arrevutato... Ve cunziglio d''o jettá...." Agata! Tu mi capisci? Agata! Tu mi tradisci! Agata! Guarda! Stupisci... Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te! Ho ridotto il pasto giornaliero, sempre per te... 'A matina, nu bicchiere d'acqua... senza cafè! Vèngo â casa e nun te trovo, 'o purtiere tene 'a chiave: - Dov'è andata? - - A' sala 'e ballo! - Mi commuovo...e penzo che te facive 'a partetella, tutt''e ssere, 'nziem'a me... Mo mme faccio...'o sulitario, guardo in cielo e penzo a te! Agata! Tu mi capisci! Agata! Tu mi tradisci! Agata! Guarda! Stupisci... Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te! Agata! Guarda! Stupisci... stupisci, è ridotto quest'uomo per te! Olè . . . è finita! 1937 - Giuseppe Cioffi (music), Egidio Pisano (lyrics)

I put a toothpick in my mouth so I don’t smoke . . . I can’t see and don’t buy glasses to save . . . I live only on the salary of a city worker. I watch every dollar, I watch every dime, I even watch every two cents, I watch my shoes and don’t buy them to let you live in luxury. And you, instead, carry on with the owner of a café?! Agatha! Do you understand me? Agatha! You betray me! Agatha! Look! Be amazed, how reduced this man is for you! You bought me a hard hat three years ago . . . and, for three years, I wear it on my head . . . There’s nothing to do, this dark grey suit changed color. Now it’s bright green. It was an outfit of papa’s and the tailor told me, “I can’t renew it, it’s been renewed too many times . . . I advise you to throw it away.” Agatha! Do you understand me? Agatha! You betray me! Agatha! Look! Be amazed, how reduced this man is for you! I’ve reduced the daily meal, always for you . . . In the morning, a glass of water . . . without coffee! I arrive home and don’t find you, the doorman has the key. “Where did she go?” “To the dance hall.” I get emotional . . . and think that you were doing a pick-up game every evening together with me. Now I’m a loner, I look at the sky and think about you. Agatha! Do you understand me? Agatha! You betray me, Agatha! Look! Be amazed . . . how reduced this man is for you! Agatha! Look! Be amazed . . . be amazed, this man is reduced for you! Olè . . . it’s over! English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser Canzone napoletana piccola enciclopedia ("Neapolitan Song Tiny Encyclopedia") was published in 2015, collecting into six CDs 80 tracks of traditional Neapolitan songs that Massimo Ranieri recorded in collaboration with producer Mauro Pagani. The arrangements are fresh with a contemporary appeal and Ranieri's voice is, as always, passionate and full of life. Pagani is a multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the influential progressive rock band PFM, and is also well-known for producing Creuza de mä, Fabrizio De André's 1983 world fusion masterpiece. The Neapolitan Song tradition dates back centuries, but the classic period began in the 1830s.