Text & Translation
I' te vurria vasà
Italian source:
Vincenzo Russo
Ch'addore 'e malvarosa!
E tu durmenno staje
'Ncopp'a 'sti ffronne 'e rosa.
'O sole a ppoco a ppoco
Pe' 'stu ciardino sponta,
'O viento passa e vasa
'Stu ricciulillo 'nfronte.
I' te vurria vasà,
I' te vurria vasà,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
'E te scetà,
'E te scetà.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I' mme vurria addurmì
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
'N'ora pur'i',
'N'ora pur'i'.
Tu duorme, oje Rosa mia,
E duorme a suonno chino,
Mentr'io guardo, 'ncantato,
'Stu musso curallino.
E chesti ccarne ffresche
E chesti ttrezze nnere
Me mettono 'int' ô core
Mille male penziere.
I' te vurria vasà,
I' te vurria vasà,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
'E te scetà,
'E te scetà.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I' mme vurria addurmì
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
'N'ora pur'i',
'N'ora pur'i'.
Sento 'stu core tuojo
Ca sbatte comm'a ll'onne.
Durmenno, angelo mio,
Chi sà tu a chi te suonne.
'A gelusia turmenta
'Stu core mio malato.
Te suonne a me? Dimmello!
O pure suonne a 'n'ato?
I' te vurria vasà,
I' te vurria vasà,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
'E te scetà,
'E te scetà.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I' mme vurria addurmì
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
'N'ora pur'i',
'N'ora pur'i'.
I long to kiss you
English translation ©
Nicholas Cornforth
Scented with hollyhocks!
And you lie sleeping
On a bed of rose petals.
The sun is little by little
Rising above this garden,
The wind brushes and kisses
A little strand of hair on your forehead.
I long to kiss you,
I long to kiss you,
But my heart does not rule me
To wake you,
To wake you.
I long to sleep,
I long to sleep
Close to your breath.
Beside you for just an hour,
For just an hour.
You sleep, oh my Rose,
And sleep deeply,
While I gaze, enchanted,
Upon your coral lips.
Your glowing body,
And your black curls
Spark a thousand illicit thoughts
In my heart.
I long to kiss you,
I long to kiss you,
But my heart does not rule me
To wake you,
To wake you.
I long to sleep,
I long to sleep
Close to your breath.
Beside you for just an hour,
For just an hour.
I feel your heart
Beating like waves at sea.
You are sleeping, my angel,
But who knows of what you dream.
Envy taunts
My wounded heart.
Do you dream of me? Tell me!
Or perhaps you dream of another?
I long to kiss you,
I long to kiss you,
But my heart does not rule me
To wake you,
To wake you.
I long to sleep,
I long to sleep
Close to your breath.
Beside you for just an hour,
For just an hour.
I' te vurria vasà
Italian source:
Vincenzo Russo
I long to kiss you
English source:
Nicholas Cornforth
Ah! Che bell'aria fresca,
Ah! What fragrant, morning air,
Ch'addore 'e malvarosa!
Scented with hollyhocks!
E tu durmenno staje
And you lie sleeping
'Ncopp'a 'sti ffronne 'e rosa.
On a bed of rose petals.
'O sole a ppoco a ppoco
The sun is little by little
Pe' 'stu ciardino sponta,
Rising above this garden,
'O viento passa e vasa
The wind brushes and kisses
'Stu ricciulillo 'nfronte.
A little strand of hair on your forehead.
I' te vurria vasà,
I long to kiss you,
I' te vurria vasà,
I long to kiss you,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
But my heart does not rule me
'E te scetà,
To wake you,
'E te scetà.
To wake you.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I long to sleep,
I' mme vurria addurmì
I long to sleep
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
Close to your breath.
'N'ora pur'i',
Beside you for just an hour,
'N'ora pur'i'.
For just an hour.
Tu duorme, oje Rosa mia,
You sleep, oh my Rose,
E duorme a suonno chino,
And sleep deeply,
Mentr'io guardo, 'ncantato,
While I gaze, enchanted,
'Stu musso curallino.
Upon your coral lips.
E chesti ccarne ffresche
Your glowing body,
E chesti ttrezze nnere
And your black curls
Me mettono 'int' ô core
Spark a thousand illicit thoughts
Mille male penziere.
In my heart.
I' te vurria vasà,
I long to kiss you,
I' te vurria vasà,
I long to kiss you,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
But my heart does not rule me
'E te scetà,
To wake you,
'E te scetà.
To wake you.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I long to sleep,
I' mme vurria addurmì
I long to sleep
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
Close to your breath.
'N'ora pur'i',
Beside you for just an hour,
'N'ora pur'i'.
For just an hour.
Sento 'stu core tuojo
Envy taunts
Ca sbatte comm'a ll'onne.
My wounded heart.
Durmenno, angelo mio,
Do you dream of me? Tell me!
Chi sà tu a chi te suonne.
Or perhaps you dream of another?
'A gelusia turmenta
I long to kiss you,
'Stu core mio malato.
I long to kiss you,
Te suonne a me? Dimmello!
But my heart does not rule me
O pure suonne a 'n'ato?
To wake you,
I' te vurria vasà,
I' te vurria vasà,
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o ddice
'E te scetà,
'E te scetà.
I' mme vurria addurmì,
I' mme vurria addurmì
Vicin' ô sciato tuojo
'N'ora pur'i',
'N'ora pur'i'.
Composer
Eduardo Di Capua
Eduardo Di Capua (1865 – 1917) was a Neapolitan composer and singer.