Santa Lucia
This Santa Lucia song is about a section in Naples. It's tune has been adapted for use in some Scandinavian songs that are sung for the holiday of Santa Lucia.
Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia Song
Santa Lucia Song
(Italian)
(English)
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento.
Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento.
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento.
Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento.
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Con questo zeffiro, così soave,
Oh, com'è bello star sulla nave!
Con questo zeffiro, così soave,
Oh, com'è bello star sulla nave!
Su passegieri, venite via!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Su passegieri, venite via!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
In fra le tende, bandir la cena
In una sera così serena,
In fra le tende, bandir la cena
In una sera così serena,
Chi non dimanda, chi non desia.
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Chi non dimanda, chi non desia.
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Mare sì placida, vento sì caro,
Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro,
Mare sì placida, vento sì caro,
Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro,
E va gridando con allegria,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
E va gridando con allegria,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
O dolce Napoli, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
O dolce Napoli, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
Tu sei l'impero dell'armonia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Tu sei l'impero dell'armonia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Or che tardate? Bella è la sera.
Spira un'auretta fresca e leggiera.
Or che tardate? Bella è la sera.
Spira un'auretta fresca e leggiera.
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
The silver star shimmers on the sea,
The wave is peaceful, the wind is favorable.
The silver star shimmers on the sea,
The wave is peaceful, the wind is favorable.
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
With this breeze so sweet,
Oh, how lovely it is to be on a boat!
With this breeze so sweet,
Oh, how lovely it is to be on a boat!
Come on passengers, come away!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come on passengers, come away!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Amid the sails, supper is ready
On this night so serene.
Amid the sails, supper is ready
On this night so serene,
With no demands, with no desires,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
With no demands, with no desires,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
This sea so calm, this wind so dear,
Makes the sailor forget his troubles.
This sea so calm, this wind so dear,
Makes the sailor forget his troubles.
And he is shouting cheerfully,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
And he is shouting cheerfully,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Oh sweet Naples, oh blessed land,
Where Creation wished to smile!
Oh sweet Naples, oh blessed land,
Where Creation wished to smile!
You are the realm of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
You are the realm of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Now why delay? The night is beautiful,
A cool and light breeze is blowing.
Now why delay? The night is beautiful,
A cool and light breeze is blowing.
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Notes
I asked Gian Carlo in Italy about this song and he wrote: "The only famous Italian song I remember about Santa Lucia has the same tune as the one people sing in Sweden. The Santa Lucia song (a barcarolla) is the first song ever translated from Neapolitan into Italian. In this song, however, Santa Lucia is the historical quarter of Naples."
FYI "A barcarolla" refers to the style of music sung by the gondoliers of Venice.
*****
Here's a non-literal but singable English translation by Maria X. Hayes from the early 1900's:
1.
Now 'neath the silver moon
Ocean is glowing,
O'er the calm billow
Soft winds are blowing.
Now 'neath the silver moon
Ocean is glowing,
O'er the calm billow
Soft winds are blowing.
Here balmy breezes* blow,
Pure joys invite us,
And as we gently row,
All things delight us.
Here balmy breezes blow,
Pure joys invite us,
And as we gently row,
All things delight us.
Who then will sail with me
In my bark o'er the sea?
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Who then will sail with me
In my bark o'er the sea?
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Who will embark with me
On yonder sparkling sea?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Who will embark with me
On yonder sparkling sea?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
When o'er thy waters
Light winds are playing
Thy spell can sooth us
All care allaying
Hark, how the sailor's cry
Joyously echoes nigh:
Santa Lucia!
To thee, sweet Napoli,
What charms are given,
Where smiles creation,
Toil blest by heaven.
Home of fair Poesy,
Realm of pure Harmony,
Santa Lucia!
*Originally translated as "zephyrs".
Comments
"Santa Lucia" was transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) in the original Neapolitan and published in 1849 in Naples. Later Cottrau translated it into standard Italian.
You can hear the 1st and 5th verses of this song in the mp3 recording as written below:
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento.
Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento.
Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento.
Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento.
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Venite all'agile barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
O dolce Napoli, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
O dolce Napoli, o suol beato,
Ove sorridere volle il creato,
Tu sei l'impero dell'armonia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Tu sei l'impero dell'armonia,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
MP3: Tino Rossi's rendition of Santa Lucia.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Gian Carlo Macchi for sending us this song and translation (translated with Lisa Yannucci).
Photo: Wikipedia
