The story of creation of this song was described by Italian poet Giovanni De Caro in his book "Naples tells":
One evening I met E.A. Mario standing in front of the shop window called "Toys and perfumes".
– I need to buy toys for my daughters, let's go inside! – E.A. Mario said.
After us into the shop a woman went with too much makeup. She led her five-year-old daughter by the hand. The woman bought a powder and Coty cologne and headed for the door.
– Mom, do you buy me this doll? – the little girl asked in an injured voice,
– No! – the woman answered sternly.
– Mom, buy it for me! – the girl begged with tears,
– Don't be capricious! – the woman said and went out dragging her daughter with her.
– Have you seen that cruel mother? – E.A. Mario said, coming out of the shop, and then he walked in silence.
– What are you thinking about? – I asked him,
– About that cruel woman… Poor child! – E.A. Mario answered and started to murmur: toys and perfumes… toys and perfumes…
After some time he wrote the song "Toys and perfumes" that made all mothers in Italy cry.
Tutta sfolgorante è la vetrina,
Piena di balocchi e profumi.
Entra con la mamma la bambina
Tra lo sfolgorio di quei lumi.
"Comanda, signora?"
"Cipria e colonia Coty".
"Mamma!" – mormora la bambina
Mentre pieni di pianto ha gli occhi, –
"Per la tua piccolina
Non compri mai balocchi.
Mamma, tu compri soltanto i profumi per te".
Ella, nel salotto profumato,
Ricco di cuscini di seta,
Porge il labbro tumido al peccato
Mentre la bambina indiscreta
Dischiude quel nido
Pieno d'odor di Coty…
"Mamma!" – mormora la bambina
Mentre pieni di pianto ha gli occhi, –
"Per la tua piccolina
Non compri mai balocchi.
Mamma, tu compri soltanto i profumi per te".
Esile, agonizza la bambina;
Or la mamma non è più ingrata:
Corre a vuotar tutta la vetrina
Per la sua figliuola malata.
"Amore mio bello,
Ecco i balocchi per te!"
"Grazie", – mormora la bambina
Vuole toccare quei balocchi
Ma il capo già reclina
E già socchiude gli occhi.
Piange la mamma pentita,
Stringendola al cuor.
Mamma senza la sua bambina
Il capo suo reclina,
Triste su quei balocchi.
Piange la mamma pentita
Stringendoli al cuor.
The whole shop window is glinting,
Full of toys and perfumes.
The little girl enters with her mom,
Surrounded by twinkling lights.
"What would you like, signora?"
"Powder and Coty cologne".
"Mom!" – the girl murmurs
While her eyes are full of tears, –
"For your child
You never buy toys.
Mom, you buy only perfumes for yourself".
In the perfumed living room,
Full of silk pillows,
Mother sins, kissing her lover,
While the curious girl looks into
This love nest,
Full of smell of Coty perfume…
"Mom!" – the girl murmurs
While her eyes are full of tears, –
"For your child
You never buy toys.
Mom, you buy only perfumes for yourself".
Weakened girl is near death;
Now her mom is not strict anymore:
She runs to buy up all the shop window
For her sick child.
"My beloved daughter,
Here are the toys for you!"
"Thank you", – the girl murmurs,
She wants to touch these toys,
But her head is already lowering
And her eyes is already closing.
The repentant mother cries,
Holding her tightly to her heart.
Mother without her daughter
Lowers her head,
She is sad over these toys.
The repentant mother cries,
Holding them tightly to her heart.