"Santa Lucia" (, ) is a traditional

Neapolitan song Canzone napoletana (), sometimes referred to as Neapolitan song ( nap, canzona napulitana ), is a generic term for a traditional form of music sung in the Neapolitan language, ordinarily for the male voice singing solo, although well represented ...

. It was translated by

Teodoro Cottrau Teodoro Cottrau (7 December 1827, in Naples – 30 March 1879, in Naples) was an Italian composer, lyricist, publisher, journalist and politician. He specialised in "folksy" Neapolitan songs. His arrangement of Santa Lucia was published in 1850 ...

(1827–1879) into Italian and published by the Cottrau firm, as a '' barcarola'', in Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from

Neapolitan Neapolitan means of or pertaining to Naples, a city in Italy; or to: Geography and history * Province of Naples, a province in the Campania region of southern Italy that includes the city * Duchy of Naples, in existence during the Early and Hig ...

into

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

during the first stage of the

Italian unification The unification of Italy ( it, Unità d'Italia ), also known as the ''Risorgimento'' (, ; ), was the 19th-century political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of different states of the Italian Peninsula into a single ...

, the first Neapolitan song to be given Italian lyrics. Its transcriber, who is very often credited as its composer, was the son of the French-born Italian composer and collector of songs

Guillaume Louis Cottrau Guillaume-Louis Cottrau (10 August 1797 in Paris – 31 October 1847 in Naples) was a French composer and music publisher. Arrived in Naples with his father who served Joachim Murat, the King of Naples, Cottrau undertook the publication of ''Pas ...

(1797–1847). Various sources credit A. Longo with the music, 1835. The original lyrics of "Santa Lucia" celebrate the picturesque waterfront district,

Borgo Santa Lucia Borgo Santa Lucia, or simply Santa Lucia ("Saint Lucy orough), is a historical ''rione'' of Naples, Italy, facing the coast. The area rises around the street of the same name, in turn named after the basilica of , the presence of which is atteste ...

, in the

Gulf of Naples The Gulf of Naples (), also called the Bay of Naples, is a roughly 15-kilometer-wide (9.3 mi) gulf located along the south-western coast of Italy (province of Naples, Campania region). It opens to the west into the Mediterranean Sea. It i ...

, in the invitation of a boatman to take a turn in his boat, to better enjoy the cool of the evening.

Lyrics

Neapolitan lyrics

Comme se frícceca la luna chiena! lo mare ride, ll'aria è serena... È pronta e lesta la varca mia... Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Stu viento frisco fa risciatare: chi vo' spassarse jenno pe' mmare? Vuje che facite 'mmiezo a la via? Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! La tènna è posta pe' fa' 'na cena; e quanno stace la panza chiena non c'è la mínema melanconia. Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! * ''The following two lines were included in the Neapolitan version as transcribed in the "Italia Mia" website.'' Pozzo accostare la varca mia Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Italian lyrics

English lyrics

Now 'neath the silver moon Ocean is glowing, O'er the calm billows, soft winds are blowing. Here balmy breezes blow, pure joys invite us, And as we gently row, all things delight us. Chorus: Hark, how the sailor's cry joyously echoes nigh: Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Home of fair Poesy, realm of pure harmony, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! When o'er the waters light winds are playing, Thy spell can soothe us, all care allaying. To thee sweet Napoli, what charms are given, Where smiles creation, toil blest by heaven.

Versions

Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording of the song was that of

Enrico Caruso Enrico Caruso (, , ; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic first lyrical tenor then dramatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles (74) ...

, the great Neapolitan opera singer.

Mario Lanza Mario Lanza (, ; born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza ; January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor and actor. He was a Hollywood film star popular in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at ...

recorded this song in this album "Mario Lanza sings Caruso favorites", RCA Victor LSC-2393. In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by

Thomas Oliphant Thomas Oliphant is an American journalist who was the Washington correspondent and a columnist for ''The Boston Globe''. Life and career Oliphant was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from La Jolla High School in California and in 196 ...

, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore. In

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

, the

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway bet ...

, and

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light

Saint Lucy's Day Saint Lucy's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Lucy, is a Christian feast day observed on 13 December. The observance commemorates Lucia of Syracuse, an early-fourth-century virgin martyr under the Diocletianic Persecution, who according to l ...

, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

are ''Luciasången'', also known by its

incipit The incipit () of a text is the first few words of the text, employed as an identifying label. In a musical composition, an incipit is an initial sequence of notes, having the same purpose. The word ''incipit'' comes from Latin and means "it beg ...

, ''Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring'' ("Saint Lucy, bright illusion"); ''Natten går tunga fjät'' ("The night walks with heavy steps"); and the 1970s "

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cent ...

" version, ''Ute är mörkt och kallt'' ("Outside it’s dark and cold"). The more common

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

version is ''Svart senker natten seg'' ("Black the night descends"), whereas the version commonly used in Denmark is titled ''Nu bæres lyset frem'' ("Now light is carried forth"). In the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

(or former

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

), it was made famous with the words ''Krásná je Neapol'' sung by

Waldemar Matuška Waldemar Matuška (; July 2, 1932 – May 30, 2009) was a Czechoslovak singer who became popular in his homeland during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he immigrated to the United States. Early career Waldemar Matuška was born in Košice, Czech ...

. In

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

it is famous under the title "Wenn sich der Abend mild". It is sung by Austrian fraternities. In

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

a translation, ''Silpakorn Niyom'' ( th, ศิลปากรนิยม), is the anthem of

Silpakorn University Silpakorn University (SU.) ( th, มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร; ) is a national university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Tuscan–born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name S ...

; the founder of the university,

Silpa Bhirasri Silpa Bhirasri ( th, ศิลป์ พีระศรี; ; ), born Corrado Feroci (15 September 1892 – 14 May 1962), was a Tuscan-born Thai sculptor. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the found ...

, was Italian.

Performances

* A choir sings in Swedish in Arthur's Perfect Christmas. *

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

included the song in a medley on his album '' 101 Gang Songs'' (1961). *

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

recorded the song on the 1965 album '' Elvis for Everyone!'' It was featured in his film ''

Viva Las Vegas ''Viva Las Vegas'' is a 1964 American musical film directed by George Sidney and starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. The film is regarded by fans and film critics as one of Presley's best films, and it is noted for the on-screen chemistry bet ...

''. *

Monsieur Tranquille ''Monsieur Tranquille'' is a character in the Canada, Canadian children's television series ''Patof voyage''. He is well known for the 1977 disco hit ''Ma'm Thibault''. He was portrayed by actor-comedian Roger Giguère. Children's TV shows Mr. T ...

made a disco version for his 1977 debut album ''Monsieur Tranquille – Faut pas m'chercher'' *

Tolmachevy Sisters Anastasiya Andreyevna Tolmacheva and Maria Andreyevna Tolmacheva (born 14 January 1997, Kursk), known as the Tolmachevy Sisters (), are identical twin singers and actresses from Kursk, Russia. Aged nine, they won the Junior Eurovision Song Conte ...

performed it as the closing track to their 2007 debut album ''Polovinki'' and as well as on the VGTRK TV series ''Subbotniy Vecher'' in 2006. *Italian tenor

Sergio Franchi Sergio Franchi (born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was an Italian-American tenor and actor who enjoyed success in the United States and internationally after gaining notice in Britain in the early 1960s. In 1962, RCA Vict ...

(1926–1990) recorded this song in 1963 on his RCA Victor Red Seal album, ''Our Man From Italy''. *

Hayley Westenra Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987) is a New Zealand classical crossover singer and songwriter. Her first internationally released album, ''Pure'', reached number one on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million c ...

included the song in her album ''

Treasure Treasure (from la, thesaurus from Greek language ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions leg ...

''. * In 1964,

Jim Nabors James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and comedian, widely known for his signature character, Gomer Pyle. Nabors was discovered by Andy Griffith while working at a Santa Monica, California, Sa ...

, Don Knotts,

Andy Griffith Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his characte ...

, and the choir performed the song on ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The ...

'', in the episode "The Song Festers". * Italian-American crooner

Jerry Vale Jerry Vale (born Gennaro Louis Vitaliano; July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter and actor. During the 1950s and 1960s, he reached the top of the pop charts with his interpretations of romantic ballads, including a cover ...

recorded a popular version of the song. * Tom and Jerry sang it at the beginning of the cartoon

Cat and Dupli-cat ''Cat and Dupli-cat'' is a 1967 Tom and Jerry short produced by Chuck Jones and MGM Animation/Visual Arts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, written by Jones and Michael Maltese, and animated by Dick Th ...

. * Mustafa Sağyaşar recorded a version in Turkish in 1998, with his son Cemil. * Robot B-9 sang several verses in the "

Lost in Space ''Lost in Space'' is an American science fiction television series, created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968 on CBS. The series was inspired by the 1812 novel ''The Swiss Family Robinson.'' The series fo ...

" episode, "The Ghost Planet." Although normally voiced by well-known actor and voice-over expert Dick Tufeld, this version was sung by Bob May, the actor who played the Robot. It was one of the rare times May's voice was heard instead of Tufeld's. May was accompanied by actor Bill Mumy (who played Will Robinson), on the guitar. Mumy already was an accomplished musician and went on to a career in acting and music.

References

External links

"Santa Lucia"
sung by

"Santa Lucia"
free Sheet Music for piano
Choral Public Domain Library
{{Authority control 1849 songs Christmas carols Neapolitan songs Italian folk songs Elvis Presley songs Songs about Naples