4 marzo 1943 [Gesù bambino]

Lucio Dalla

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English Version by Riccardo Venturi

GESUBAMBINO (4-3-43)

Dice che era un bell'uomo e veniva dal mare
parlava un'altra lingua però sapeva amare

e quel giorno lui prese a mia madre su un prato
l'ora più dolce prima di essere ammazzato.

Così lei restò sola nella stanza sul porto
con l'unico vestito ogni giorno più corto,

e benché non sapesse il nome o il paese
m'aspettò come un dono fino dal primo mese.
Compiva sedici anni quel giorno la mia mamma
le strofe di taverna le cantò a ninna-nanna

e stringendomi al petto che sapeva di mare
giocava alla Madonna col bimbo da fasciare,

E forse fu per gioco o forse per amore
che mi volle chiamare come Nostrosignore.

Della sua breve vita il ricordo più grosso
è tutto in questo nome che io mi porto addosso.

E ancora adesso mentre bestemmio e bevo vino
per i ladri e le puttane sono Gesubambino.

4 MARCH 1943 [JESUS CHILD]

They say he was a handsome man
and he came, came from the sea,
he spoke a different language
but he knew how to love

And that day he took my mother
on a beautiful meadow,
the sweetest hour
before he was killed.

So she had to stay alone in her room,
her room facing the harbor,
with her only dress becoming
every day shorter and shorter,

And though she did not know his name
and either where he came from,
she kept expecting me like a gift of love
since the first month.

On that day my mother
turned sixteen years old
lullabying me in the tavern
to the tune of the drinking songs,

And hugging me fondly
to her sea-scented breast
she played making a woman
with a baby to be swaddled.

And maybe it was for fun,
or maybe it was for love
that she gave me the name
of our Lord the Savior

The most impressing memory
of her life so short
lies all in this name
that I will bear forever.

And even now that I play cards
and drink red wine,
the harbor folks always
call me Jesus Child.

And even now that I play cards
and drink red wine,
the harbor folks always
call me Jesus Child.

And even now that I play cards
and drink red wine,
the harbor folks always
call me Jesus Child.

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