Guarda chi vita fa lu zappaturi - Look What a Life the Peasant Lives

Guarda chi vita fa lu zappaturi Chi notti e jornu suda e 'un avi locu Parti di notti e torna a vint'uri D'invernu all'acqua E d'estati a lu focu Di tanti gregni 'N cci resta 'na spica Lu so travagghiu 'ngrassa li patruna Po' vidi ca a lu ventu s'affatica Li so' picciotti chiancinu diuna E pensa cu la menti scujitata L'hamm'a canciari 'sta sorti mischina E pensa cu la menti scujitata L'hamm'a canciari 'sta sorti mischina Guarda chi vita fa lu zappaturi © 1955 Giuseppe Ganduscio Giuseppe Ganduscio was an Italian poet and self-taught intellectual who condemned Fascism, war, violence, and social injustice. In 1962 he founded the Italian Council for Peace. He was also a collector of traditional Sicilian folk songs. Rosa Balistreri presented "Guarda chi vita fa lu zappaturi" in the 1966 show "Ci ragiono e canto" directed by Dario Fo to present regional folkloric songs from throughout Italy.

Look what a life the peasant lives, who night and day sweats and has no peace. He departs at night and returns at dusk, in the winter, in water, and in summer, under the fire. Out of so many sheaves, nary a stalk remains. His work fattens the owners, then he sees that he strains in vain to the wind. His children cry, starved, and he thinks with a troubled mind we must change this fate. And he thinks with a troubled mind we must change this fate. English translation © 2023 Dennis Criteser La voce della Sicilia (The Voice of Sicily) was Balistreri's first album, released in 1967. Most of the songs are traditional Sicilian folk songs.