Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Signurì, serv'ô ccellenza,
Si vuje site 'nu signore,
Io vulesse avè ll'onore
'E ve dicere chi sò.

Sò Papele, 'o marenaro,
'O marito 'e Carmenella,
Chella tala Lucianella
Ca v'ha fatto sfrennesià.

Ve voglio fà assapè c' 'a voglio bbene,
Ca ce simmo spusate pe' passione
E mme levasse 'o sango 'a dint' ê vvene
Pe' nun lle fà mancà 'nu muorzo 'e ppane.
Vuje, cu 'e rricchezze voste,
Cercate 'e v' 'a piglià.
Ma avete fatto i conti senza l'oste,
E ll'oste, signurino mio, sta ccà.

Stammatina, ê ssette e meza,
Stevo già a Santa Lucia,
Arrischianno 'a vita mia,
'Mmiez' ô mare a faticà.

Stammatina, â casa mia,
Addò ce sta scritto "Onore",
È sagliuto 'nu signore
Cu 'nu fascio 'e rrose thè.

A chi 'e vvuleva dà, ll'immaginate!
Però se ll'ha purtato 'n'ata vota
Io, ca nun songo ricco e sò alfabeto,
Si 'o trovo ll'aggi' 'a dì: "Vuje nun servite!
Mogliema Carmenella
Nun diciarrà maje sì!
È onesta. E si tenite 'na sorella,
'O stesso fascio 'e rrose ce 'o port'i' ".

Ma ched'è, v'amariggiate?
'Stu trascurzo nun ve piace?
Vuje v'avit' 'a fà capace
Ca 'sta storia ha da fernì.

Si ve 'ncoccio 'n'ata vota
Ca passate pe' 'sta via,
Giuro: "Privo 'e mamma mia,
Nun ve faccio passà cchiù!"

Ca state armato, nun me fa paura,
Tengo 'nu vraccio 'e fierro e 'o core 'acciaro.
Io, quanno veco 'a morte, 'a guardo e riro
E levo 'a vita a chi me leva 'ammore.
Ll'onore mio m'è caro,
Nun m' 'o levà! Pecché,
Si mm'arricordo ca sò marenaro,
Te porto 'nfunn' ô mare 'nziem'a mme!

Signor, Your Excellency,
If you are a gentleman,
I would like to have the honor
Of telling you who I am.

I'm Raffaele, the seaman,
The husband of Carmelina,
That woman of Santa Lucia*
Who you have a passion for.

I want you to know that I love her,
That we were married for love
And I would slit my wrists
If she hadn't even a piece of bread.
You, with your richness,
You try to seduce her.
But you haven't taken account of the owner,
And the owner is here, signor.

This morning, at half past seven,
I was already in Santa Lucia,
Risking my life,
In the middle of the sea for work.

This morning, into my house
That says "Honor",
A signor has come
With a bouquet of tea roses.

Who he wanted to give it to, you imagine it!
If he brought it more than once,
Even though I'm not rich and I'm illiterate,
If I see him I'll tell him: "You're not welcome!
My wife Carmelina
She'll never say yes!
She's honest. And if you have a sister
This bouquet of roses I'll bring it to her".

But what's the matter, are you angry?
Don't you like this talk?
You have to understand
That this story must be over.

If I see you again
Walking this way,
I'll tell you: "I swear on my mother's life,
I don't let you pass anymore!"

Even if you're armed, I'm not afraid,
I have an iron hand and heart of steel.
When I see the death I laught in its face
And I take the life of those who take away my love.
My honor is dear to me,
Don't take it away from me! Because
If I remember that I'm a seaman,
I'll take you to the bottom of the sea with me!