Friday, 28 January 2011

Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was la la transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) and published by the Cottrau firm, as a "barcarolla", at Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from Napuletano into Italian during the first stage of the Risorgimento, the first Neapolitan song to be given Italian lyrics. Its transcriber, who is very often credited as its composer, was the son of the French-born Italian composer and collector of songs Guillaume Louis Cottrau (1797–1847).


Mario Lanza Version






The Neapolitan lyrics of "Santa Lucia" celebrate the picturesque waterfront district, Borgo Santa Lucia, in the Bay of Naples, in the invitation of a boatman to take a turn in his boat, to better enjoy the cool of the evening.



In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by Thomas Oliphant, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore. Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording of the song was that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan opera singer.


In Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light festival of Saint Lucy, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish are Luciasången, aka Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring (“Saint Lucy, bright illusion”), Natten går tunga fjät (“The night walks with heavy steps”) and the 1970s "Kindergarten" version Ute är mörkt och kallt (“Outside it’s dark and cold”).


Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Lucia (Which includes the Italian Lyrics)
Elvis sang it in Viva Las Vegas in 1963 (released 1964) and it appeared on Elvis for Everyone in 1965. Here it is in the film setting followed by If You Think I Don't Need You.



Original Italian lyrics

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!
[edit]English translation

On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship!
Its passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Its passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

In between the tents, dinner invitations
On such a quiet evening,
In between the tents, dinner invitations
On such a quiet evening,
Who does not demands, desires to those who do not.
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Who does not demands, desires to those who do not.
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget makes the thistles in marine
Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget makes the thistles in marine
It should be shouting with joy,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
It should be shouting with joy,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Or to be late? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Or to be late? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

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