Here's the companion piece to Fabri Fibra's "Speak English", from his album "Bugiardo" (Liar, 2007). A very faithful description of what contemporary Italy - "the country of half truths" (*) - is all about.
(*): Here some contextual info - the opening scene of Paolo Sorrentino's Il Divo (2008):
And here's Fabri Fibra's official video for "In Italia", featuring Gianna Nannini
[the song is also available here]
Fabri Fibra "In Italia" (2007)
Ci sono cose che nessuno ti dirà…
ci sono cose che nessuno ti darà…
sei nato e morto qua
sei nato e morto qua
nato nel paese delle mezza verità
dove fuggi?
There are things that nobody will tell you..
There are things nobody will give you...
You were born and died here
You were born and died here
Born in the country of half thruths
Where are going?
in Italia pistole in macchine
in iIalia machiavelli e foscolo
in Italia i campioni del mondo
In Italy, guns in cars
In Italy, Machiavelli and Foscolo
In Italy, world champions
sono in Italia
benvenuto
in Italia fatti una vacanza al mare
in Italia meglio non farsi operare
in Italia non andare all’ospedale
in Italia la bella vita
in Italia le grandi serate e i gala
in Italia fai affari con la mala
in Italia il vicino che ti spara
I'm in Italy
Welcome
In Italy, go to the seaside
In Italy, beware of surgeries
In Italy, stay away from hospitals
In Italy, the beautiful life
In Italy, evening parties and the galas
In Italy, dealing with organized crime
In Italy, getting shot by your neighbor
in Italia…
Ci sono cose che nessuno ti dirà…
ci sono cose che nessuno ti darà…
sei nato e morto qua
sei nato e morto qua
nato nel paese delle mezze verità
In Italy
There are things that nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and died here
You were born and died here
Born in the country of half truths
dove fuggi?
in Italia i veri mafiosi sono
in Italia i più pericolosi sono
in Italia le ragazze nella strada
in Italia mangi pasta fatta in casa
in Italia poi ti entrano i ladri in casa
in Italia non trovi un lavoro fisso
in Italia ma baci il crocifisso
in Italia i monumenti
in Italia le chiese con i dipinti
in Italia gente con dei sentimenti
in Italia la campagna e i rapimenti
Where are you going?
In Italy the real mobsters are
In Italy the most dangerous are
In Italy the girls in the streets
In Italy eating home made pasta
In Italy home invasion
In Italy you can't find a stable job
In Italy but you kiss the crucifx
In Italy the monuments
In Italy churches with paintings
In Italy people with feelings
In Italy the countryside and the kidnappings
in Italia…
rit. (x2)
Ci sono cose che nessuno ti dirà…
ci sono cose che nessuno ti darà…
sei nato e morto qua
sei nato e morto qua
nato nel paese delle mezze verità
In Italy
There are things that nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and died here
You were born and died here
Born in the country of half truths
dove fuggi?
in italia le ragazze corteggiate
in italia le donne fotografate
in italia le modelle ricattate
in italia impara l’arte
in italia gente che legge le carte
in italia assassini mai scoperti
in italia volti persi e voti certi
Where are you going?
In Italy courted girls
In Italy photographed women
In Italy blackmailed super models
In Italy learning the craft
In Italy people reading tarots
In Italy never found murderers
In Italy the lost ballots and the sure ballots
in Italia
rit. (x2)
Ci sono cose che nessuno ti dirà…
ci sono cose che nessuno ti darà…
sei nato e morto qua
sei nato e morto qua
nato nel paese delle mezze verità
dove fuggi… (x2)
In Italy
There are things that nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and died here
You were born and died here
Born in the country of half truths
Where are you going?
Translated by Matteo Bittanti as part of the ongoing "Understanding Italian Pop Music" project.
Previously:
Fabri Fibra "Speak English" (2010)
Luca Carboni's "Ci vuole un fisico bestiale" (1992)
Mike Patton's Il cielo in una stanza" (1959)
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