An Evening of
Serenate Napoletane
Featuring
Joe Caliva
(singer/guitarist)
​​​
​
Christ Church, Naples
Via San Pasquale, 15B, 80121 Napoli
Saturday, 18 January 2025, 7:00 PM
Program
1. 'Na voce, 'na chitarra e 'o poco 'e luna (1954)
Music: Carlo Alberto Rossi / Lyrics: Ugo Calise
2. Te voglio bene assaje (1835)
Music: Filippo Campanella or Gaetano Donizetti / Lyrics: Raffaele Sacco
​
Music & Lyrics: Totò (Antonio De Curtis)
​
Music: Eduardo Di Capua / Lyrics: Vincenzo Russo
​
Music: Salvatore Mazzocco / Lyrics: Umberto Martucci
​
Music: Teodoro Cottrau / Lyrics: Michele Zezza
​​
Music: Ernesto De Curtis / Lyrics: Raffaele Sacco
​
8. Uocchie c'arraggiunate (1904)
Music: Rodolfo Falvo / Lyrics: Alfredo Falcone Fieni
​
Music: Salvatore Cardillo / Lyrics: Riccardo Cordiferro
​
Music: Salve D'Esposito / Lyrics: Tito Manlio
​
Music: Sandro Taccani & Vincenzo Di Paola / Lyrics: Umberto Bertini
​
Music: Eduardo Di Capua / Lyrics: Giovanni Capurro
Lyrics / Translations
'Na voce, 'na chitarra e 'o poco 'e luna
'Na voce, 'na chitarra e 'o ppoco 'e luna
E che vuò cchiù pe' fà 'na serenata?
Pe' suspirà d'ammore chianu chiano
Pparole ddoce pe' 'na 'nnammurata:
"Te voglio bbene, tanto tantu bbene!
Luntano 'a te nun pozzo cchiù campà".
'Na voce, 'na chitarra e 'o ppoco 'e luna
E comm'è ddoce chesta serenata!
'A vocca toja s'accosta cchiù vicina
E tu t'astrigne a mme cchiù appassiunata.
Cu 'na chitarra e 'nu felillo 'e voce
Cu' tte vicino canto e sò felice.
Ammore, nun pozzo cchiù scurdarme 'e te!​​
A voice, a guitar, and a little moonlight
A voice, a guitar, and a little moonlight
What more do you need to make a serenade?
To softly sigh with love,
Sweet words for a beloved:
"I love you, so very much!
I can’t live without you anymore."
A voice, a guitar, and a little moonlight,
How sweet this serenade is!
Your lips come closer,
And you hold me tightly and passionately.
With a guitar and a soft voice,
I sing beside you and I’m happy.
My love, I can never forget you!
Te voglio bbene assaje
​
Pecché quanno me vide
Te 'ngrife comm'a gatto?
Nennè, che t'aggio fatto
Ca no' me può vedè?
Io t'aggio amato tanto,
Si t'amo tu lo saje.
​
Io te voglio bbene assaje
E tu non pienze a me.
La notte tutte dormeno,
Ma io che bbuò durmì!
Penzanno â nenna mia,
Mme sento ascevolì.
Li quarte d'ora sonano
A uno, a ddoje, a tre.
Guardame 'nfaccia e vide
Comme song'arredutto:
Sicco, peliento e brutto,
Nennella mia, pe' tte!
Cusuto a filo duppio
Co tte me vedarraje.​
I Love You So Much
​
Why, when you see me,
Do you become furious like a cat?
Darling, what have I done to you
That you don't want to see me?
I loved you so much,
You know I still do.
I love you so much
But you don't think of me.
At night, everyone sleeps,
But I can't sleep at all!
Thinking of my beloved
I feel myself weakening.
The clock chimes
One, two, three.
Look at my face and see
How I've changed:
Thin, pale, and ugly,
All because of you, my dear!
Sewn up with a double thread,
You'll always find me tied to you.
Malafemmena
​
Si avisse fatto a 'n'ato
Chello c'hê fatto a mme,
'St'ommo t'avesse acciso
E vuò sapè pecché?
Pecché 'ncopp'a 'sta terra,
Ffemmene comm'a tte,
Nun ce hann' 'a stà pe' 'n'ommo
Onesto comm'a mme.
Femmena,
Tu sì 'na malafemmena!
Chist'uocchie hê fatto chiagnere
Llacreme 'e 'nfamità.
Femmena,
Sì tu peggio 'e 'na vipera.
M'hê 'ntussecato ll'anema,
Nun pozzo cchiù campà.
Femmena,
Sì doce comm' ô zzuccaro,
Però 'sta faccia d'angelo
Te serve pe' 'ngannà.
Femmena,
Tu sì 'a c ho chiù bella femmena!
Te voglio bbene e t'odio,
Nun te pozzo scurdà.
Te voglio ancora bbene,
Ma tu nun saje pecché.
Pecché ll'unico ammore
Sì stata tu pe' mme.
E tu, pe' 'nu capriccio,
Tutto hê distrutto, oje nè!
Ma Ddio nun t' 'o pperdona
Chello c'hê fatto a mme.
Wicked Woman
​
If you had done to another man
What you did to me,
That man would’ve killed you,
And do you want to know why?
Because in this world,,
Women like you
Shouldn’t be with an honest man
Like me.
Woman,
You’re a wicked woman!
These eyes of mine have cried
Bitter tears.
Woman,
You’re worse than a viper.
You’ve poisoned my soul,
I can’t live anymore.
Woman,
You’re as sweet as sugar,
But that angelic face of yours
Is only there to deceive.
Woman,
You are such a beautiful woman!
I love you and I hate you,
But I can't forget you.
I still love you,
But you don’t know why.
Because the only love
I’ve ever had was you.
And you, on a whim,
You've destroyed everything, oh, my dear!
But God won’t forgive you
For what you’ve done to me.
Maria, Marì
​
Arapete, fenesta,
Famme affaccià a Maria!
Ccà stongo 'mmiez' â via
Speruto d' 'a vedè.
Nun trovo 'n'ora 'e pace.
'A notte 'a faccio juorno,
Sempe pe' stà ccà attuorno,
Speranno 'e ce parlà.
Oje Marì, oje Marì,
Quanta suonno ca perdo pe' tte!
Famme addurmì
Abbracciato 'nu poco cu' tte!
Oje Marì, oje Marì,
Quanta suonno ca perdo pe' tte!
Famme addurmì,
Oje Marì, oje Marì!
'Mmiez'a 'stu ciardeniello
Nce ride 'a malvarosa.
'Nu lietto 'e ffronne 'e rosa
Aggio fatto pe' tte.
Viene, c' 'a notte è ddoce,
'O cielo ch'è 'nu manto!
Tu duorme e io te canto
'A nonna a fianco a te.
Maria, Marie
​​
Open the window,
Let me see Maria!
I’m here in the middle of the street,
Desperate to catch a glimpse of her.
I can't find a moment of peace.
I stay up all night
Always hanging around here,
Hoping to speak to her.
Oh, Maria, oh, Maria,
How much sleep I lose because of you!
Let me fall asleep,
Just for a little while, with you in my arms!
Oh Maria, oh Maria,
How much sleep I lose because of you!
Let me sleep,
Oh Maria, oh Maria!
In this little garden,
The geraniums smile.
I’ve made a bed of rose petals
Just for you.
Come, the night is sweet,
The sky is like a blanket!
You sleep, and I’ll sing
A lullaby by your side.
Indifferentemente
​​
Tramonta 'a luna
E nuje, pe' recità ll'urdema scena,
Restammo mmane e mmane,
Senza tenè 'o curaggio 'e ce guardà.
Famme chello che vuò
Indifferentemente.
Tanto 'o ssaccio che sò:
Pe' tte nun sò cchiù niente!
E damme 'stu veleno,
Nun aspettà dimane,
Ca, indifferentemente,
Si tu m'accide nun te dico niente.
E ride pure,
Mentre me scippe 'a pietto chistu core.
Nun sento cchiù dulore
E nun tengo cchiù llacreme pe' tte.
E indifferentemente
Io perdo a tte!
Indifferently
​​
The moon rises,
And we, to play the final scene,
Remain hand in hand,
Unable to find the courage to look at each other.
Do whatever you want with me,
Indifferently.
It doesn't matter—I already know:
To you, I am nothing anymore.
So give me this poison,
Don't wait until tomorrow,
Because, indifferently,
Even if you kill me, I won't say a word.
And you even laugh,
While you tear my heart from my chest.
I no longer feel any pain,
And I have no more tears left for you.
And indifferently,
I am losing you!
Santa Lucia
​​
Comme se fricceca la luna chiena!
Lo mare ride, ll'aria è serena!
Vuje che facite 'mmiez'a la via?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
'Sto viento frisco fa risciatare.
Chi vò spassarse jenno pe' mare
È pronta e lesta la varca mia!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
La tenna è posta pe' fà 'na cena
E quanno stace la panza chiena,
Non c'è la minema melanconia!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Pozzo accostare la varca mia?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Santa Lucia
​​
How brightly the full moon is shining!
The sea is laughing, the air is calm.
What are you doing out in the street?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
​
This fresh breeze is so relaxing.
Whoever wants to have fun by the sea,
My little boat is ready and waiting!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
​
The table is set for a fine dinner,
And when your belly is full,
Not a trace of melancholy remains!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
​
May I moor my little boat here?
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Torna a Surriento!
​​
Vide 'o mare quant'è bello!
Spira tantu sentimento,
Comme tu: a chi tiene mente,
Ca scetato 'o faje sunnà.
Guarda, guà chistu ciardino!
Siente, siè 'sti sciure 'arancio!
'Nu prufumo accussì fino
Dint' ô core se ne va.
E tu dice: "Io parto, addio!"
T'alluntane da 'stu core.
Da 'sta terra de ll'ammore
Tiene 'o core 'e nun turnà?
Ma nun me lassà,
Nun darme 'stu turmiento!
Torna a Surriento,
Famme campà!
Vide 'o mare de Surriento!
Che tesore tene 'nfunno!
Chi ha girato tutt' 'o munno,
Nun ll'ha visto comm'a ccà!
Guarda attuorno, 'sti Ssirene
Ca te guardano 'ncantate
E te vonno tantu bbene,
Te vulessero vasà!
Come back to Sorrento!
​​
Look at the sea, how beautiful it is!
It stirs such deep feelings,
Just like you, who in your thoughts
Awaken dreams in those you love.
Look, look at this garden!
Smell the fragrance of these orange blossoms!
A scent so delicate
That it touches the heart.
And you say: "I'm leaving, goodbye!"
You’re moving away from my heart,
From this land of love,
Can your heart really not return?
But don't leave me,
Don't give me this torment!
Come back to Sorrento,
Let me live!
Look at the sea of Sorrento!
What treasures lie in its depths!
Anyone who has traveled the world
Has never seen anything like this!
Look around at the Sirens
Who gaze at you in wonder,
And love you so much,
They wish to kiss you!
Uocchie c'arraggiunate
​​​​
'St'uocchie ca tiene, belle,
Lucente cchiù d' 'e stelle,
Sò nire cchiù d' 'o nniro
Sò comm'a dduje suspire.
Ogne suspiro coce,
Ma tene 'o ffuoco doce
E, comme trase 'mpietto,
Nun lle dà cchiù 'arricietto.
E chi ve pò scurdà,
Uocchie c'arraggiunate,
Senza parlà,
Senza parlà?
A me guardate, sì,
E stateve 'nu poco,
Comme dich'i',
Comme vogl'i',
Comme vogl'i'!
Sò nire, cchiù sblennente
'E ll'ebano lucente.
Comm'a 'na seta fina
Sò ll'uocchie 'e Cuncettina.
Sempe ca 'e ttengo mente,
Nce trovo sentimente
Pecché nce sta 'nu vezzo
Ca i' guardo e ll'accarezzo.
Eyes that Speak
​​​​​
These eyes you have, so beautiful,
Shining brighter than the stars.
They are darker than the deepest black,
Like two soft sighs.
Every sigh burns,
But it holds a sweet fire.
When it enters the heart,
It never lets go of its charm.
And who could ever forget you,
Eyes that speak,
Without words,
Without words?
You look at me, yes,
And linger for a moment,
How I say,
How I wish,
How I wish!
They are dark, more brilliant
Than polished ebony.
Like the finest silk,
These are Concetta’s eyes.
Whenever I think of them,
I find emotion within them,
Because there’s a charm in them
That I gaze at and cherish.
Core 'ngrato
​​​​​
Catarì, Catarì,
Pecché me dice 'sti pparole amare?
Pecché m' 'e parle e 'o core me turmiente,
Catarì?
Nun tte scurdà ca t'aggio dato 'o core, Catarì,
Nun tte scurdà!
Catarì,
Catarì, che vene a dicere
'Stu pparlà ca me dà spaseme?
Tu nun nce pienze a 'stu dulore mio?
Tu nun nce pienze, tu nun te ne cure.
Core, core 'ngrato,
T'aje pigliato 'a vita mia!
Tutt'è passato
E nun nce pienze cchiù.
Catarì, Catarì,
Tu nun 'o ssaje ca 'nfin' 'int'a 'na chiesa
Io sò trasuto e aggio priato a Dio, Catarì,
E ll'aggio ditto pure a 'o cunfessore:
"I' stò a suffrì
Pe' chella llà.
Stò a suffrì,
Stò a suffrì, nun se pò credere,
Stò a suffrì tutte li strazie".
E 'o cunfessore, ch'è perzona santa,
M'ha ditto: "Figlio mio, lassala stà!"
Ungrateful Heart
​​​​​​
Catherine, Catherine,
Why do you say these bitter words to me?
Why do you speak to me and torment my heart,
Catherine?
Don't forget that I gave you my heart, Catherine
Don't forget!
Catherine,
Catherine, what are you trying to say
With these words that bring me such pain?
Don’t you think about my suffering?
Don’t you care, don’t you give it any thought?
Ungrateful heart,
You’ve taken my life!
Everything is gone,
And you don’t think about it anymore.
Catherine, Catherine,
You don’t know that I even went to a church,
And I prayed to God, Catherine,
I even told the confessor:
“I am suffering
Because of her.
I am suffering,
I am suffering, you wouldn’t believe it,
I am suffering through all kinds of torment.”
And the confessor, who is a holy man,
Told me: “My son, let her go!"
Anema e Core
​​​​​
Nuje ca perdimmo 'a pace e 'o suonno,
Nun ce dicimmo, maje pecché?
Vvocche ca vase nun ne vonno,
Nun sò 'sti vvocche, oje nè.
Pure, te chiammo e nun rispunne
Pe' fà dispietto a mme.
Tenimmoce accussì, anema e core!
Nun ce lassammo cchiù, manco pe' 'n'ora.
'Stu desiderio 'e te me fa paura:
Campà cu tte,
Sempe cu tte
Pe' nun murì.
Che ce dicimmo a ffà pparole amare,
Si 'o bbene pò campà cu 'nu respiro?
Si smanie pure tu pe' chist'ammore,
Tenimmoce accussì, anema e core!
Forse sarrà c' 'o chianto è ddoce,
Forse sarrà ca bene fa…
Quanno mme sento cchiù felice,
Nun è felicità…
Specie si ê vvote tu me dice,
Distratta, 'a verità.
Heart and Soul
​​​​​​
We have both lost peace and sleep,
But, we never say why, do we?
Lips that no longer want to kiss—
These aren’t the lips I know, my love.
Yet, I call out to you, and you don’t answer,
Just to spite me, it seems.
​
Let’s hold on to this, my heart and soul!
Let’s never part again, not even for an hour.
This longing for you—it scares me:
To live with you,
Always with you,
Not to die.
Why would we speak bitter words,
If love can survive on just a single breath.
If you also long for this love,
Let’s hold on to this, my heart and soul!
​
Maybe it’s because crying feels sweet,
Or maybe it’s that love has its own ways…
When I feel happiest,
It’s not true happiness…
Especially when, at times,
You distractedly tell me the truth.
Chella llà
​​​​​
St'ammore me teneva 'ncatenato
Ma ho detto, "Basta" e mi so' liberato
Me pare cchiù turchino 'o cielo
Me pare cchiù lucente 'o sole
E 'o core canta p''a felicità
Chella llà, chella llà
Mo' va dicenno 'ca me vo' lassà
Se crede 'ca me faccio 'o sangue amaro
Se crede 'ca 'mpazzisco e po' me sparo
Chella llà, chella llà
Nun sape che piacere ca me fà
Me ne piglio nata cchiù bella e zitella restarrà
Chella llà, chella llà, chella llà
Ajere m'ha mandato nu' biglietto
p' 'a figlia d' 'o purtiere di rimpetto
me scrive c' 'a nun e' felice
e c' 'a vurria cu me fa pace
ma io me sto gustanno 'a liberta'.
That Woman
​​​​​
This love had me chained,
But I said, "Enough," and set myself free.
And now the sky looks bluer,
The sun shines brighter,
And my heart sings with joy.
​
That woman, that woman,
Now she’s saying she wants to leave me.
She thinks I’ll let it get to me,
She’s thinks I’ll lose my mind and end it all.
That woman, that woman,
She has no idea how happy she’s making me.
I’ll find someone more beautiful,
And she’ll stay an old maid
That woman, that woman, that woman.
​
Yesterday, she sent me a note
Through the doorman’s daughter across the street.
She wrote that she’s unhappy
And that she wants to make peace with me.
But I’m enjoying my freedom too much.
O Sole Mio
​​​​​
Che bella cosa è 'na jurnata 'e sole,
'N'aria serena doppo 'na tempesta!
Pe' ll'aria fresca pare già 'na festa.
Che bella cosa è 'na jurnata 'e sole!
Ma 'n'atu sole
Cchiù bello, oje nè,
'O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te!
'O sole, 'o sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te,
Sta 'nfronte a te!
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne,
Me vene quase 'na malincunia;
Sott' â fenesta toja restarria
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne.
My Sun
​​​​​
What a beautiful thing is a sunny day,
The serene air after the storm!
The fresh air is like a celebration.
What a beautiful thing is a sunny day!
But another sun,
Even more beautiful, oh dear,
My own sun
Shines from you!
The sun, my own sun,
Shines from you,
Shines from you!
When night comes and the sun sets,
A kind of melancholy comes over me;
I would stay beneath your window
When night comes and the sun sets.