"" (; ) is a famous song written in the

Neapolitan language Neapolitan (Exonym and endonym, autonym: ; ) is a Romance language of the Italo-Romance languages, Italo-Romance group spoken in most of continental Southern Italy. It is named after the Kingdom of Naples, which once covered most of the area, ...

. The song is used as the

anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...

S.S.C. Napoli Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli (), commonly known as SSC Napoli or simply Napoli, is an Italian professional football club based in Naples, Campania that currently competes in the Serie A, the highest league of Italian football. Napoli are am ...

. The words were written by

Aniello Califano Aniello Califano (19 January 1870 in Sorrento – 20 February 1919 in Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino) was an Italian poet and writer. He was the author of numerous Neapolitan songs, the music to which was composed by various Neapolitan compos ...

and the music composed by Enrico Cannio in 1915. The song describes the sadness of a soldier who is fighting at the front during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and who pines for his beloved. Originally Cannio's sheet music was published with piano

accompaniment Accompaniment is the musical part which provides the rhythmic and/or harmonic support for the melody or main themes of a song or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in different genres and styles of m ...

, but in recordings, on 78rpm, then LP, Neapolitan standards such as "" have usually been orchestrated to suit each tenor.

Lyrics

Original lyrics : : : : : : :: :: :: :: : : : : : : :: : : : : : : :: English translation: : You are far away from this heart, : I fly to you in thought: : I hope and want nothing more : than always keeping you by my side! : Be sure about this love : As I am sure of you... :: Oh life, oh my life... :: Oh heart of this heart... :: You were the first love... :: and the first and last you will be for me! : How many nights have I not seen you, : not felt you in my arms, : not kissed your face, : not held you tight in my arms?! : But, waking from these dreams, : you make me cry for you... :: Oh life, oh my life .. : Always write and be happy: : I can only think of you... : One thought comforts me, : that you only think of me... : The most beautiful woman of all, : is never more beautiful than you! :: Oh life, oh my life ..

The Corrs The Corrs are an Irish family band consisting of siblings Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle, mandolin, ukulele), Sharon (violin, keyboards, vocals), Caroline (drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán, vocals) and Jim (guitar, piano, keyboards, v ...

when performing with

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

used the following English lyrics for the second verse: : So many nights without you : without you in my arms : I can kiss you, I can draw you close to me : but wake up from your slumber : you make me cry for you!

Notable performances and recordings

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 a ...

on ''Mario!'' (1958) *

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 ...

on ''Romantic Italian Song'' (1962; #17 on the

Billboard Top 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular Album, music albums and extended play, EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine to convey the popularity of an recor ...

) *

Franco Corelli Franco Corelli (8 April 1921 – 29 October 2003) was an Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was ce ...

on ''Passione'' (1963) *

Giuseppe di Stefano Giuseppe Di Stefano (24 July 19213 March 2008) was an Italian operatic tenor who sang professionally from the mid-1940s until the early 1990s. Called "Pippo" by both fans and friends, he was known as the "Golden Voice" or "The Most Beautiful Vo ...

on ''Neapolitan Songs III'' (1965) *

Massimo Ranieri Giovanni Calone (born 3 May 1951), known professionally as Massimo Ranieri, is an Italian singer, actor, television presenter and theatre director. Biography Early life Ranieri was born in Borgo Santa Lucia, Naples, the fifth of eight children ...

, based on

Anna Magnani Anna Maria Magnani (; 7 March 1908 – 26 September 1973) was an Academy Award-winning Italian actress.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', 3 October 1973, pg. 47 She was known for her explosive acting and earthy, realistic portrayals of ...

's performance in the film ''

La sciantosa ''La Sciantosa'' is an Italian TV movie directed by Alfredo Giannetti and produced by RAI television in 1970. Even though it was filmed in color, back then RAI's shows were still being shown in black and white, since they didn't convert to color T ...

'' (1971) *

on ''Favourite Neapolitan Songs'' (1981)Records in review - Volume 26 - Page 371 1981 "LUCIANO PAVAROTTI: "O sole mio: Favorite Neapolitan Songs." DI CAPUA: O sole mio; Maria, Mart. TOSTI: 'A vucchella; Marechiare. CANNIO: 'O surdato 'nnammurato. GAMBARDELLA: 'O marenariello. DE CURTIS: Torna a ..." * Luciano Pavarotti in duet with

the Corrs The Corrs are an Irish family band consisting of siblings Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle, mandolin, ukulele), Sharon (violin, keyboards, vocals), Caroline (drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán, vocals) and Jim (guitar, piano, keyboards, v ...

(middle verse sung in English) *

Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli (; born 22 September 1958) is an Italian tenor. He rose to fame in 1994 after winning the newcomers' section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing " Il mare calmo della sera". Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo st ...

on ''

Incanto ''Incanto'' is the twelfth studio album by Classical Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, released on 4 November 2008 and coinciding with his 50th birthday. The album, a personal tribute to the musical traditions of his homeland, features mainly Neapoli ...

'' (2008) *

Vittorio Grigolo Vittorio Grigolo (correctly Vittorio Grigòlo, born 19 February 1977) is an Italian operatic tenor. Early life Grigolo was born in Arezzo and raised in Rome. He began singing by the age of four. When he was nine years old he accompanied his moth ...

on ''Arrivederci'' (2011)

In other media

* directed in 1983.

References

External links

* , 1983
E-chords

{{DEFAULTSORT:Surdato 'Nnamurato 1915 songs Neapolitan songs Songs about soldiers Songs about the military Songs of World War I