Texts of the Neapolitan songs

E sò sbarcate 'nterra Marechiare
Tre cumitive 'e vascio â Sanità:
Sò ddoje coppie 'e 'nnammurate,
Ddoje maeste 'ngannaccate
Cu 'e marite e 'nu cumpare
Viecchio "capo 'e suggità".

E che tavula speciale!
'Nterra 'o cato cu 'a frutta e 'o vino,
'Nu mellone dint'â cantina,
'O cumpare dint'â cucina
Ca discute cu 'a principale.

E 'a luna guarda e dice:
"Si fosse ancora overo!
Chisto è 'o popolo 'e 'na vota,
Gente semplice e felice!
Chist'è Napule sincero,
Ca pur'isso se ne va".

Divotamente mò se fanno 'a croce,
Comm'è ll'usanza, primma 'e accummincià.
'O cumpare ch'è 'struito,
Fa 'nu brinnese "in pulito".
Lle risponne, a una voce,
Tutt' 'a tavula: "Addò va!"

'A siè Rosa ca se cunzola
Pe' sti suone ca sò venute,
Pe' 'sta voce ch'è fina e bella,
P' 'a canzona ch'è "Palummella",
Palummella ca zompa e vola.

E 'a luna guarda e dice:
"Si fosse ancora overo!
Chisto è 'o popolo 'e 'na vota,
Gente semplice e felice!
Chist'è Napule sincero,
Ca pur'isso se ne va".

'E ttre ffamiglie tornano vucanno,
'Nu poco fatte a vino tutt' 'e ttre.
'A varchetta 'e ccunnulea,
'Na maesta scapuzzea,
'O cumpare parla 'e quanno,
Quanno 'o guappo era 'nu rre.

'E ffigliole, pe' sottaviento,
Mò se fanno 'na zuppetella
Cu 'e taralle 'int'a ll'acqua 'e mare.
Ll'acqua smoppeta fragne e pare
Ca 'e mmanelle sò tutte 'argiento.

E 'a luna guarda e dice:
"Si fosse ancora overo!
Chisto è 'o popolo 'e 'na vota,
Gente semplice e felice!
Chist'è Napule sincero,
Ca pur'isso se ne va".

Have gone ashore in Marechiaro*
Three companies from Sanità:**
Two pairs of lovers,
Two women, decorated with jewellery,
With their husbands and a godfather,
An old man who was a "gangsters' leader".

But what a perfect dinner-table!
On the ground there's the basket of fruit and wine,
In the cellar there's a melon,
The godfather in the kitchen
Disputes with the hostess.

And the moon looks at them and says:
"If it were still so!
These are the people of the past,
The people who are simple and happy!
It's true Naples
That disappears".

Everyone crosses himself devoutly,
As is the custom, before meals.
The godfather, who is well-educated,
Gives the toast in italian.
In response, with one voice,
They say to him: "To your health!"

Aunt Rosa is so satisfied
With musicians, who have come,
With the tender and beautiful voice,
With the song "Palummella"
That tells her about a butterfly.

And the moon looks at them and says:
"If it were still so!
These are the people of the past,
The people who are simple and happy!
It's true Naples
That disappears".

Three families go home by boats,
They all are drunk a little.
The boat wallows,
One woman dozes,
The godfather tells everyone
About the good old days.

The girls, on the lee side,
Want to soak the bagels,
Dipping them in the seawater.
The water is reflected and it seems
As if their hands get covered with silver.

And the moon looks at them and says:
"If it were still so!
These are the people of the past,
The people who are simple and happy!
It's true Naples
That disappears".