Quann' 'ammore tuzzuleja
'Nfacc' 'e llastr' 'e 'stu balcone,
Doce doce, 'na canzona
Te vò sentere cantà…
E, cu tutt' 'e llastre 'nchiuse,
Zitto zitto, 'ammore trase…
E me pare 'e sentì, quase,
Ca tu cante affianc' a mme:

– 'Ammor' è comm' 'a scala d' 'e pumpiere:
S'allonga, s'accorta,
S'acala, s'aìza…
E se 'mpizz' addò cchiù le piàce
Quann' 'a femmena dice ca sì!…

'Nu cardillo 'nnammurato
Cant' 'o stesso riturnello
E po' dice: – Ammore è bello,
Quanno ride 'a giuventù!… –
'Stu cardill' è 'o core mio
Ca mò sta 'int' â cajola,
Comm' a tte, ca sì figliola,
E te manc' 'a libbertà!…

'Ammor' è comm' 'a scala d' 'e pumpiere:
S'allonga, s'accorta,
S'acala, s'aìza…
E se 'mpizz' addò cchiù le piàce
Quann' 'a femmena dice ca sì!…

Quanta vote me n'addono
Ca me guard' e ca suspire,
Pe' tramente 'st'uocchie nire
Vonno dicere accussì:
– Chist' ammore secutato,
Sient' a mme, ca nun è cosa…
'Ncopp' â testa, 'a meglia rosa,
Nun 'a voglio fà seccà!… –

'Ammor' è comm' 'a scala d' 'e pumpiere:
S'allonga, s'accorta,
S'acala, s'aìza…
E se 'mpizz' addò cchiù le piàce
Quann' 'a femmena dice ca sì!…

'Ammor' è comm' 'a scala d' 'e pumpiere:
S'allonga, s'accorta,
S'acala, s'aìza…
E se 'mpizz' addò cchiù le piàce
Quann' 'a femmena dice ca sì!…

When love knocks
At the windows of your balcony,
It wants to hear a gentle song
Sung by you…
And even with the windows closed,
Love quietly comes in…
And it almost seems to me
That I hear you singing next to me:

"Love is like a firefighter ladder:
It extends, it retracts,
It lowers, it raises…
Then it reaches where it likes most,
When a woman says 'yes'."

The lovestruck goldfinch
Sings the same chorus,
Then says: "Love is beautiful
When youth is laughing."
This goldfinch is my heart,
Which is in a cage now,
Just like you — you're young,
And you're longing for freedom!…

Love is like a firefighter ladder:
It extends, it retracts,
It lowers, it raises…
Then it reaches where it likes most,
When a woman says 'yes'.

How many times I notice
That you look at me and sigh,
Meanwhile your black eyes
Want to tell me this:
"This haunting love,
Listen to me, it's no good…
The most beautiful rose in my vase
I don't want it to wither."

Love is like a firefighter ladder:
It extends, it retracts,
It lowers, it raises…
Then it reaches where it likes most,
When a woman says 'yes'.

Love is like a firefighter ladder:
It extends, it retracts,
It lowers, it raises…
Then it reaches where it likes most,
When a woman says 'yes'.