Texts of the Neapolitan songs

Jeva pe' 'nnummenata 'int' ô quartiere,
Faceva cierte scarpe su misura
C'accuntentava 'e meglie d' 'e signure,
'Stu scarpariello 'e dint'a Sanità.

'Nu juorno 'na figliola, 'a Reginella,
S'appresentaje a 'nnanz' ô bancariello:
"M'hê 'a fà 'nu bello pare 'e scarpetelle,
Raso e merletto, quanno aggi' 'a spusà".

'Nchiova, 'nchiova, scarpariello,
Pe' 'sti scarpe 'e Reginella.
Ma 'stu chiuove 'int' ê cervelle
Comme pogne, scarpariè.
'Stu pensiero, levatillo!
'Nchiova, 'nchiova, scarpariè!

Chillo nun ll'aveva fatta maje 'a 'mmasciata
Pe' nun avè ll'affronto 'e 'nu rifiuto.
Ma Reginella nun ll'eva capito,
Diceva: "Ma quant'arie ca se dà!"

Ma 'o scarpariello mò s'era deciso,
Teneva pronto 'nu biglietto rosa.
Quanno 'nce 'o steva danno cu 'na scusa,
Chella lle ddà 'e scarpe pe' spusà.

'Nchiova, 'nchiova, scarpariello,
Ll'hê perduta a Reginella!
'Stu biglietto, astipatillo,
Leva mano, sient' a mme!
Nun dà retta, scordatella!
'Nchiova, 'nchiova, scarpariè!

Venimmo a nuje. Trasevano dint' â chiesa.
'Nterra a ll'altare 'nu biglietto rosa,
'O sposo 'o legge,
Cade 'nterra 'a sposa.
S'arrevutaje 'o quartiere 'a Sanità.

'O sposo, ch'era 'n'ommo assaje deciso,
Dicette: "Nun mm' 'a tengo chest'offesa!
Pe' chist'affronto nun ce stanno scuse!
Nisciuno tene 'a forza 'e me fermà!"

'Nchiova, 'nchiova, scarpariello,
Ma 'stu sposo 'e Reginella
Va sapenno: è proprio chillo
Ch'era tanto amico a tte.
E comm'è! Caccia 'o curtiello!
Statte attiento, scarpariè!

Comme sbatte 'stu martiello
'Ncopp' ê fierre 'e 'sta cancella
Ca te leva 'o sole a tte.
Comme chiagne Reginella:
"Ma ch'hê fatto, scarpariè?"

He was famous for the neighbourhood,
He made good shoes to order
And pleased the successful people,
This shoemaker of Sanità district.

One day, a girl, named Regina,
Has come into his workshop:
"Make me a beautiful pair of shoes
With satin and laces for my wedding".

Drive a nail, drive a nail, shoemaker,
Into these shoes for Regina.
But this obsession in your mind
Gives you no peace, shoemaker.
Put this idea out of your head!
Drive a nail, drive a nail, shoemaker!

He never made a declaration of love
Not to be distressed with rejection.
But Regina hasn't understood him,
She has said: "What haughty you are!"

But now the shoemaker has made up his mind,
He has written a love message on a pink paper.
When he had given this message to her,
She pointed him to her shoes for wedding.

Drive a nail, drive a nail, shoemaker,
You have lost Regina!
Throw your love message out,
Leave her in peace, listen to me!
Don't think of her, forget her!
Drive a nail, drive a nail, shoemaker!

Back to the story. They have come into the church.
At the altar a love message on a pink paper lies,
The bridegroom reads it,
The bride falls on the ground.
In Sanità district there's the excitement.

The bridegroom was a very determined man,
He has said: "I don't tolerate this insult!
There's no excuse for this affront!
No one can stop me!"

Drive a nail, drive a nail, shoemaker,
But Regina's betrothed
Has found out: who has written it
Was his close friend.
Well! He takes a knife!
Be careful, shoemaker!

The tapping of a hammer comes
On the prison bars
That hide the sun from you.
How bitterly Regina cries:
"What have you done, shoemaker?"