Dear music lovers

I like to share this beautiful Neapolitan song. Reginella was written in 1917 by Libero Bovio, one of the most prolific contributors to the Neapolitan Songbook. Gaetano Lama wrote the music as a waltz.

Please visit this link if you wish to know more about Canzone napoletana, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canzone_Napoletana.

Here are five of the most famous Neapolitan songs, https://www.visitnaples.eu/en/neapolitanity/tales-of-naples/the-history-behind-5-of-the-best-neapolitan-songs.

Singing a cappella - Cover by Donatello

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/roberto-murolo-reginella-lyrics.html

Neapolitan

Reginella

Te si' fatta na vesta scullata,
nu cappiello cu 'e nastre e cu 'e rrose.
Stive 'mmiez'a tre o quatto sciantose
e parlave francese. E' accussì?
Fuje ll'autriere ca t'aggio 'ncuntrata,
fuje ll'autriere a Tuleto, 'gnorsì.

[Ritornél:]
T'aggio vuluto bene a te.
Tu mm'hê vuluto bene a me.
Mo nun ce amammo cchiù,
ma ê vvote tu,
distrattamente, pienze a me.

Reginè', quanno stive cu mico,
nun magnave ca pane e cerase.
Nuje campàvamo 'e vase, e che vase!
Tu cantave e chiagnive pe'mmé,
e 'o cardillo cantava cu tico:
"Reginella 'o vò' bene a stu rre".

(ritornél)

Oje cardillo, a chi aspiette stasera?
Nun 'o vvide? Aggio aperta 'a cajóla.
Reginella è vulata! E tu vola!
Vola e canta, nun chiagnere ccà.
T'hê 'a truvà na padrona sincera
ch'è cchiù degna 'e sentirte 'e cantà.

Mo nun ce amammo cchiù,
ma ê vvote tu,
distrattamente,
pienze a me.

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/reginella-reginella.html

English translation

Reginella

You bought a low-cut dress,
a hat with ribbons and with roses.
You were among the three or four singers
and you spoke french. So what?
It was the day before yesterday that I've met you,
It was the day before yesterday in Tuleto1, yes siree.

[Chorus:]
I've loved you so much.
You've loved me so much.
Now we don't love each other anymore,
but from time to time you,
absent-mindedly, think of me.

Reginella, when you were with me
you didn't eat but bread and cherries. 2
We lived on kisses, and what kisses!
You were singing and crying for me,
and the goldfinch sang along with you:
"Reginella3 you love this king so much."

(chorus)

Ah goldfinch, whom are you expecting tonight?
Don't you see? I've opened the cage,
Reginella's flown! Fly you too!
Fly and sing, don't cry here.
You have to find a sincere mistress
who's worthy enough to listen to your singing.

Now we don't love each other anymore,
but from time to time you,
absent-mindedly, think of me.