Music by Ernesto De Curtis.
Lyric by Giambattista De Curtis.
It is one of the most famous and beautiful Neapolitan songs. It was composed in 1902 and since then it has been very popular.
Vide’o mare quant’è bello!
spira tantu sentimento….
| Vide’o mare quant’è bello! spira tantu sentimento, Comme tu a chi tieni mente, Ca scetato ‘o fai sunnà. |
Look at the sea, how beautiful it is! it inspires so many emotions, like you do with the people you look at, who you make to dream while they are still awake. |
| Guarda, gua’ chistu ciardino; Siente, sie’ sti ciur’ arance: Nu prufumo accussì fino dint’ ‘o core se ne va… |
Look at this garden; and the scent of these oranges, such a fine perfume, it goes straight into your heart… |
| E tu dice: “I’ parto: addio!” T’alluntane da stu core… Da sta terra de l’ammore… Tieni ‘o core ‘e nun turnà? |
And you say: “I am leaving, goodbye.” You go away from this heart of mine… away from this land of love…. And you have the heart not to come back? |
| Ma nun me lassà, Nun darme stu turmiento! Torna a Surriento, famme campà! |
But do not go away, do not give me this pain! Come back to Surriento, let me live! |
| Vide ‘o mare de Surriento, che tesoro tene nfunno: chi ha girato tutto ‘o munno nun l’ha visto comm’a ccà! |
Look at the sea of Surriento, what a treasure it is: Even who has travelled all over the world, he has never seen a sea like this one! |
| Guarda attuorno sti Sirene, Ca te guardano ncantato, e te vonno tantu bene… Te vulessero vasà. |
Look at these mermaids that stare, amazed, at you, that love you so much…. They would like to kiss you. |
| E tu dice: “I’ parto: addio!” T’alluntane da stu core… Da sta terra de l’ammore… Tieni ‘o core ‘e nun turnà? |
And you say: “I am leaving, goodbye.” You go away from this heart of mine… away from this land of love…. And you have the heart not to come back? |
| Ma nun me lassà, Nun darme stu turmiento! Torna a Surriento, famme campà! |
But do not go away, do not give me this pain! Come back to Surriento, let me live! |
Belinda Galiano 