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GuglielmoCottrau
Michelemmà
(My Michelle)
Music: unknown,
(transcribed by Guglielmo Cottrau in 1840),
Lyrics: unknown.
Year: the 17th century
(My Michelle)
Music: unknown,
(transcribed by Guglielmo Cottrau in 1840),
Lyrics: unknown.
Year: the 17th century
Sergio Bruni
The translation of the title is still debatable: some suppose that "Michelemmà" means "My Michelle" while others think the translation is "Michelle at sea".
The text is unclear. Maybe this ancient song, written in the epoch of the turkish incursions into the Naples coast, speaks not about a girl but about an isle, maybe Isle of Ischia, called "curly-headed" on account of its relief.
È nata 'mmiez'ô mare,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
È nata 'mmiez'ô mare,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Oje 'na scarola,
Oje 'na scarola.
Li turche se nce vanno,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Li turche se nce vanno,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
A reposare,
A reposare.
Chi pe' la cimma e chi,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Chi pe' la cimma e chi,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Pe' lo streppone,
Pe' lo streppone.
Viato a chi la vence,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Viato a chi la vence,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Co 'sta figliola,
Co 'sta figliola.
'Sta figliola ch'è figlia
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
'Sta figliola ch'è figlia
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Oje de notaro,
Oje de notaro.
E 'mpietto porta 'na,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
E 'mpietto porta 'na,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Stella diana,
Stella diana
Pe' fà morì ll'amante,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Pe' fà morì ll'amante,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
A duje a duje,
A duje a duje.
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
È nata 'mmiez'ô mare,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Oje 'na scarola,
Oje 'na scarola.
Li turche se nce vanno,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Li turche se nce vanno,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
A reposare,
A reposare.
Chi pe' la cimma e chi,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Chi pe' la cimma e chi,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Pe' lo streppone,
Pe' lo streppone.
Viato a chi la vence,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Viato a chi la vence,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Co 'sta figliola,
Co 'sta figliola.
'Sta figliola ch'è figlia
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
'Sta figliola ch'è figlia
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Oje de notaro,
Oje de notaro.
E 'mpietto porta 'na,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
E 'mpietto porta 'na,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Stella diana,
Stella diana
Pe' fà morì ll'amante,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
Pe' fà morì ll'amante,
Michelemmà, Michelemmà,
A duje a duje,
A duje a duje.
translated by Natalia Chernega
Was born in the middle of the sea,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Was born in the middle of the sea,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Oh, a curly-headed girl,
Oh, a curly-headed girl.
The Turks go here,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
The Turks go here,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
To have a rest,
To have a rest.
Some at the top and others
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Some at the top and others
My Michelle, my Michelle,
At the bottom,
At the bottom.
Blessed he who wins her,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Blessed he who wins her,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
This girl,
This girl.
This girl is a daughter,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
This girl is a daughter,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
Of a notary,
Of a notary.
Upon her bosom she wears,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
Upon her bosom she wears,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
A Morning Star,
A Morning Star
To slay the lovers,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
To slay the lovers,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
One after another,
One after another.
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Was born in the middle of the sea,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Oh, a curly-headed girl,
Oh, a curly-headed girl.
The Turks go here,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
The Turks go here,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
To have a rest,
To have a rest.
Some at the top and others
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Some at the top and others
My Michelle, my Michelle,
At the bottom,
At the bottom.
Blessed he who wins her,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
Blessed he who wins her,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
This girl,
This girl.
This girl is a daughter,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
This girl is a daughter,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
Of a notary,
Of a notary.
Upon her bosom she wears,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
Upon her bosom she wears,
My Michelle, My Michelle,
A Morning Star,
A Morning Star
To slay the lovers,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
To slay the lovers,
My Michelle, my Michelle,
One after another,
One after another.
translated by Natalia Chernega
