Pulecenella
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Neapolitan
instruments

The mandolin

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

'A serenata 'e Pulecenella


Museca: Enrico Cannio,

Vierze: Libero Bovio.

Anno: 1916

Punchinello's serenade


Music: Enrico Cannio,

Lyrics: Libero Bovio.

Year: 1916

Punchinello is a personage of Italian Comedy of art, a mask of Naples.


E stò aspettanno cu 'stu mandulino
Ll'ora ca 'a cielo se ne trase 'a luna.
Mme sò nascosto dint'a 'nu ciardino
Pe' nun 'o ffà assapè
Ca sò semp'io ca cerco scusa a te.

Te voglio tantu bbene!
Te voglio tantu bbene!
T' 'o ddico zittu, zittu,
Zittu, zitto,
Ca, si allucco, 'a gente
Ca nun sape niente
Pò sentì:
"Te voglio bbene!"

Mme metto scuorno 'e fà sapè a ll'amice
Ca tinco tinco torno e faccio pace.
Si 'appura 'a gente, Napule che dice?..
Ca m' 'e vvoglio fà fà
Sott'a chist'uocchie cierti 'nfamità?!

Te voglio tantu bbene!
Te voglio tantu bbene!
T' 'o ddico zittu, zittu,
Zittu, zitto,
Ca, si allucco, 'a gente
Ca nun sape niente
Pò sentì:
"Te voglio bbene!"

'Na vota ero 'o cchiù guappo 'e ll'Arenella,
Tenevo 'nnammurate a mille a mille,
E mò me faje chiammà Pulecenella.
Ma tu nce pienze o no
Ch'ero 'nu guappo, guappo overo… E mò?

Te voglio tantu bbene!
Te voglio tantu bbene!
T' 'o ddico zittu, zittu,
Zittu, zitto,
Ca, si allucco, 'a gente
Ca nun sape niente
Pò sentì:
"Te voglio bbene!"

translated by Natalia Chernega


I'm waiting with my mandoline
For appearance of the moon in the sky.
I've hidden in a garden
So no one would know
It's always me who begs your pardon.

I love you so much!
I love you so much!
I tell you it quietly,
Quietly,
Because if I shout,
The people who know nothing,
Can hear:
"I love you!"

I'm ashamed to say to my friends
That I go back to you to make my peace with you.
If this comes to light, what will Naples say?..
That I want you to humiliate me
Right in front of my eyes?!

I love you so much!
I love you so much!
I tell you it quietly,
Quietly,
Because if I shout,
The people who know nothing,
Can hear:
"I love you!"

One time I was the gang leader in Arenella*,
I had many women
And now because of you they call me Punchinello**.
But do you think of it or not
That I was a real gangster… And now?

I love you so much!
I love you so much!
I tell you it quietly,
Quietly,
Because if I shout,
The people who know nothing,
Can hear:
"I love you!"

translated by Natalia Chernega

* Arenella is a district of Naples,
** a weak-willed man who is being mocked.