Itela

(lyrics and music: griko tradition; arr. M. Durante and G. Bianco)

 

[en]

 

ìtela na su po’ c’emmabastèi

na pai na pi’ tis màna-su na s’armàsi

àrte ise kièccia ce se ccumetèi

jènese mali ce mèni koràsi

ìtela na su po’ ce na su dìzzo

t’ardàri pu vastò mesa so ‘ppetto

to sòma si ‘ccardìa-mu na to sfizzo

crà-mme sfittà me sena, sindè ipetto!

ìtela na su po’: jatì, jatì,

ci si portèdda-su panta climmèni?

Su prepi cajo na statì anittì

apa’ so limbitàri chatimmèni!

I’d like to tell you and (my voice) is not enough
to go and ask your mother if I can marry you
you’re still young and it suits you
you will grow old and be an old maid
I’d like to tell you and show you
the plague that I carry in me
against my heart (I’d like) to hold you
hold me tight, otherwise I’ll fall
I’d like to know why, why
your little door (is) always closed?
it’d be better for you to let it open
(and sit) at the front door