Scalinatella - Little Stairs

Scalinatèlla Longa longa longa longa Strettulélla, strettulélla Addó' sta chella 'nnammuratèlla? Nun spónta ancora... Zuc zuc zuc zuc: Zucculillo, zucculillo Pe' 'sta viarèlla scarrupatèlla! Addó' mme ne vogl'í, to ddico...e crídeme... Addó' se ne pò ghí chi è stanco 'e chiágnere?! Scalinatèlla Saglie 'ncielo o scinne a mare Cercammélla, trovammélla Pòrtame a chella sciaguratèlla! Chella s'è 'nnammurata 'e nu pittore Ca pitta Capre e parla furastiero... E i' porto 'mpiétto nu dulore 'e core E sento che mm'accide stu penziero! Scalinatèlla Longa longa longa longa Strettulélla, strettulélla Addó' sta chella 'nnammuratèlla? Nun spónta ancora... Zuc zuc zuc zuc: Zucculillo, zucculillo Pe' 'sta viarèlla scarrupatèlla! Addó' mme ne vogl'í, to ddico...e crídeme... Addó' se ne pò ghí chi è stanco 'e chiágnere?! Scalinatèlla Saglie 'ncielo o scinne a mare Cercammélla trovammélla Pòrtame a chella sciaguratèlla! A ghiuorne a ghiuorne parte nu vapore... A ghiuorne 'ammore mio se vótta a mare! 1948 - Giuseppe Cioffi (music), Enzo Bonagura (lyrics)

Little stairs long long long long, a little tight, a little tight, where is that little sweetheart? She doesn’t appear yet . . . bac bac bac bac: a little backed up, a little backed up, for this ruined little road! Where do I want to go, I tell you . . . and believe me . . . where can one go who is tired of crying?! Little stairs you rise up to the sky or go down to the sea, look for her for me, find her for me, take me to that little misfortune! She fell in love with a painter who paints Capri and talks like a foreigner . . . and I carry in my chest a heartache and I feel that this thought is killing me. Little stairs long long long long, a little tight, a little tight, where is that little sweetheart? She doesn’t appear yet . . . bac bac bac bac: a little backed up, a little backed up, for this ruined little road! Where do I want to go, I tell you . . . and believe me . . . where can one go who is tired of crying?! Little stairs you rise up to the sky or go down to the sea, look for her for me, find her for me, take me to that little misfortune! In a few days, a steamship departs . . . in a few days, my love throws herself into the sea! English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser oggi o dimane ("today or tomorrow"), published in 2001, is the first of a trilogy of albums Massimo Ranieri singing traditional Neapolitan songs, produced by 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 music fusion masterpiece. The Neapolitan Song tradition dates back centuries, but the classic period began in the 1830s. Ranieri and Pagani later produced a 6-CD box set Canzone napoletana piccola enciclopedia, published in 2015. Ranieri's live performances of these songs are a pleasure to see, showing off his dancing and theatrical skills.