Songs

Lo spazzacamino

by Giuseppe Verdi From Seste Romanze II (1845)

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Text & Translation

Lo spazzacamino
Italian source: S. Manfredo Maggioni

Lo spazzacamin! Son d'aspetto brutto e nero,
Tingo ognun che mi vien presso;
Sono d'abiti mal messo,
Sempre scalzo intorno io vo.

Ah! di me chi sia più lieto
Sulla terra dir non so.
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!

Io mi levo innanzi al sole
E di tutta la cittade
Col mio grido empio le strade
E nemico alcun non ho.

Ah, di me chi sia più lieto
Sulla terra dir non so.
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!

Talor m'alzo sovra i tetti,
Talor vado per le sale;
Col mio nome i fanciuletti
Timorosi e quieti io fo.

Ah, di me chi sia più lieto
Sulla terra dir non so.
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!

The Chimney Sweep
English translation © Anon.

The Chimney-sweep! I seem ugly
and black,
I stain everyone who presses against me;
I am badly dressed,
Ever barefoot around I go.

Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
On earth I cannot say!
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
the chimney-sweep
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.

Ah! ladies and gentlemen, the chimney-sweep!
I get up before the sun
And through all the city
With my cry I fill the streets
And I do not have one enemy.

Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
On earth I cannot say!
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
the chimney-sweep
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.
Ah! ladies and gentlemen, the chimney-sweep!

Now I rise to the rooftops
Now I go through the rooms
With my name the little children
Timid and quiet I make

Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
On earth I cannot say!
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
the chimney-sweep
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.
Ah! ladies and gentlemen, the chimney-sweep!

Lo spazzacamino
Italian source: S. Manfredo Maggioni

The Chimney Sweep
English source: Anon.

Lo spazzacamin! Son d'aspetto brutto e nero,
The Chimney-sweep! I seem ugly
Tingo ognun che mi vien presso;
and black,
Sono d'abiti mal messo,
I stain everyone who presses against me;
Sempre scalzo intorno io vo.
I am badly dressed,

Ah! di me chi sia più lieto
Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
Sulla terra dir non so.
On earth I cannot say!
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
the chimney-sweep
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.

Io mi levo innanzi al sole
Ah! ladies and gentlemen, the chimney-sweep!
E di tutta la cittade
I get up before the sun
Col mio grido empio le strade
And through all the city
E nemico alcun non ho.
With my cry I fill the streets

Ah, di me chi sia più lieto
Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
Sulla terra dir non so.
On earth I cannot say!
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
the chimney-sweep
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.

Talor m'alzo sovra i tetti,
Now I rise to the rooftops
Talor vado per le sale;
Now I go through the rooms
Col mio nome i fanciuletti
With my name the little children
Timorosi e quieti io fo.
Timid and quiet I make

Ah, di me chi sia più lieto
Ah! Who could be as happy as I—
Sulla terra dir non so.
On earth I cannot say!
Spazzacamin! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin
Chimney-sweep! Ladies and gentlemen,
Vi salva dal fuoco per pochi quattrin.
the chimney-sweep
Ah! Signori, signore, lo spazzacamin!
Will save you from fire for a few pennies.

Composer

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian opera composer. He came from a modest family, and received a musical education thanks to a local patron. Influenced by Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini, Verdi achieved renown as an opera composer,…

Performances

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