Pulecenella

Texts of the Neapolitan songs

La ricciolella


Museca: gnoto,
(trascritta 'a Guglielmo Cottrau ô 1825),

Vierze: gnoto.

Anno: XVIII seculo

The curly-headed girl


Music: unknown,
(transcribed by Guglielmo Cottrau in 1825),

Lyrics: unknown.

Year: the 18th century


Me voglio i' a 'nzorare, oje dinto Fratta,
Me voglio i' a 'nzorare, oje dinto Fratta.
Me la voglio piglià, ricciolella Antonià,
Me la voglio piglià 'na frattajola.

Non me ne curo ca non tene dota,
Non me ne curo ca non tene dota,
Basta ca tene la, ricciolella Antonià,
Basta ca tene la connocchia 'mmano!

E quanno jammo a messa alla Maronna,
E quanno jammo a messa alla Maronna,
Parimmo tutte dduje, ricciolella Antonià,
Parimmo tutte dduje figlie a 'na mamma.

translated by Natalia Chernega


I want to marry, oh, in Frattamaggiore*,
I want to marry, oh, in Frattamaggiore.
I want to choose, curly-headed Antonietta,
I want to choose a frattese**.

It doesn't matter to me that she has no dowry,
It doesn't matter to me that she has no dowry,
It's enough that, curly-headed Antonietta,
It's enough that she has a distaff in a hand!

And when we go at the Mass for Madonna,
And when we go at the Mass for Madonna,
Together we seem, curly-headed Antonietta,
Together we seem children of one mom.

translated by Natalia Chernega

* Frattamaggiore is a town at a distance of 15 km from Naples,
** Frattese is an inhabitant of Frattamaggiore.