Texts of the Neapolitan songs

La Grotta Azzurra
(The Blue Grotto)


Music: unknown,
(transcribed by Vincenzo De Meglio),
Lyrics: unknown.
Year: the 18th century

The Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the coast of the island of Capri in the Gulf of Naples.


Jammo, nennella mia,
Già la varchetta è pronta.
'Sto core è 'n'alleria,
Te dice: "Viene, vie'!"

E dint'a Grotta Azzurra
Haje da venì co mme.

Vide, tra li ccampagne,
Meta, Sorriento e Vico,
De Massa li mmontagne,
Sfilano 'nnanz' a te.

E dint'a Grotta Azzurra
T'abbracciarraje co mme.

Mò ca te tengo a lato,
'Ncopp'a 'sta varca mia
Pare ca mo sò nato
Lo cielo pe' godè.

Jammo a la Grotta Azzurra,
Voglio morì co tte.

Acalate 'no poco,
Stentato è lo passaggio.
Jarria dint'a lo ffuoco
Pe' stà vicino a tte.

Chest'è la Grotta Azzurra!
Non haje cchiù che bedè!

translated by Natalia Chernega


Let's go, my dear,
My boat is ready.
There's a joy in my heart,
I call you: "Come to me!"

To the Blue Grotto
You have to go with me.

Look, between the fields you can see
Meta, Sorrento and Vico Equense*.
The mountains of Massa Lubrense*
Are appearing before you.

In the Blue Grotto
I'll hold you close to me.

Now that you are beside me
In my boat,
It seems to me I was born again
To enjoy the Paradise.

Let's go to the Blue Grotto,
I want to die with you.

Bend down a little,
The entrance to the grotto is narrow.
I would jump into the fire
Only to be with you.

This is the Blue Grotto!
There's nothing more beautiful than it!

translated by Natalia Chernega

* Meta, Sorrento, Vico Equense and Massa Lubrense are coastal towns near Naples.