Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: una Mezza Mare -- RE O Sole Mio
From: GUEST,Gael
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 03:55 PM

O SOLE MIO is no longer a PD song due to a ruling in 2004 by a judge in Torino. His ruling stated that Alfredo Mazzucchi (1878-1972) deserved to be listed as a co-author of that song, along with the traditional authors, lyricist Giovanni Capurro (1859-1929), and composer Eduardo di Capua (1865-1917).

Mazzucchi had been long referred to as a "transcriber" -- a young musician who would work at the piano to help songwriters get their ideas down onto manuscript paper. His descendants claimed that he had had as much to do with many of di Capua's famous melodies as di Capua, himself. Evidently their proof of the claim was compelling, since the judge said in his ruling that Mazzucchi's contribution to the "creative process" was "indistinguishable" from that of di Capua, the person traditionally regarded as the composer of the melody. 18 other popular Neapolitan songs composed by di Capua fall into the decision (including Maria Mar aka: Marì).

These 18 songs, including O SOLE MIO will not come back into the public domain until at least 2042.

Cheers!
Gael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 09:34 AM

Years ago, when my cousin got married, my grandma cried. Someone asked, 'Why does Grandma always cry at weddings?' and my crusty old grandpa said, 'Because she feels sorry for the bride.'

Reading the verses of this song inspire the same feeling in me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 10:02 PM

My dad called us "baccala" frequently. It's not too bad. But the song is definitely bawdy. It was sung at weddings though.

Grazie Giovanni ma ... perche'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 07:24 PM

oh. my. god.

This song featured very strongly in my childhood. I had no idea about its rudeness! And my Sicilian grandmother used the insult "Baccalaru" regularly. I never even SUSPECTED what it meant till now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Giovanni
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 05:16 PM

BRAVISSIMO FERRARA!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 04:19 PM

can anyone help me out... the song bella bella signorina by Patrizio Buanne, it has a dialoge part at the end. i looked it up and every time i looked up the lyrics, i would find that everyone just copies and pastes them. and i have a feeling that the italian dialoge is not accurate.. they have it posted as "BASTA BELLA OOO MANAGA RAGAZZA HO CAPITO AGGA OK 'STA MUSICA BALLOOO!!!"
the first hint that gave it away, was, "managa" i know for a fact that he said "Managgia (ma-na-j) not Managa! it may have just been a typo tho.... any help...? maybe a translation with it too?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Eduardo Ferrero
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 11:35 PM

Thank you very much for the lyrics... my italian is a little rusty and the version I have is in Napolitano. My wife translated some of it but... I guess my daughter is not going to sing this one, at least not yet!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Bob D Caterino
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 12:53 AM

Yeah Baccala is cod dried out in salt then when you buy it you must soak it in water for a day. My lord, why not buy fresh cod? Ohh fa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Ferrara
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:28 PM

I was surprised to hear that the song is called La Danza? Would like more info. To the best of my knowledge it was called "Lazy Mary" on Lou Monte's recording, and it called "C'e 'na Luna Mmiezzo Mare" in the area around Naples. I don't think it's specific to Naples though.

Does anyone know whether it was originally published as sheet music? And when? If so, then it would have an "official" name. A lot of "traditional" Neapolitan songs such as O Sole Mio are basically parlor songs, written and published in Italy in the late 19th century. Is this one of them?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 01:12 AM

the song is really called LaDanza

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,trop1
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 10:17 AM

Yes this song was sung by Mama Corleone, and an old guy, in part I The Godfather. It reminds me very much of the Italian weddings I used to attend as a young boy back 50-55 years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Tery
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 04:53 PM

Thank you for the lyrics for C'e Na Luna, my husband is an accordionist (half Italian and half Irish), His Mama is the Italian side and wanted the lyrics. So thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,italian to englisj
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 01:35 PM

Se te piglio lu pesciaiole

Subject: Lyr Add: LAZY MARY (LUNA MEZZA MARE) (Lou Monte)
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 May 06 - 01:04 PM

The following is taken from the "Behind the Hits" web site. - Rita

The correct lyrics for the hit version must be gotten directly from the Lou Monte record. This presents still another problem. Monte's regional pronunciation differs radically from the dialectical spelling. As he sings the words:
c is pronounced like g
t is pronounced like d
p is pronounced like b, sometimes soft almost like v
f is pronounced like v
s is pronounced like z

Here then, for the first time on the Web, are the correct words and phonetic pronunciation as actually sung by Lou Monte:

LAZY MARY (Luna Mezzo Mare)
by Paolo Citorello, English lyrics by Lou Monte

C'è 'na luna mezz'u mare
CHEH-nah LOO-nah MEN-zoo MAH-reh

Mamma mia m'a maritare
MAH-mah MEE-ah mah mah-ree-DAH-ray

Figlia mia a cu te dare
FIH-lee-ah MEE-ah GOO-deh DAH-ray

Mamma mia pensace tu
MAH-mah MEE-ah ben-ZATCH-eh-doo

Se te piglio lu pesciaiole
zeh teh BILL-yoo-oh bee-shigh-YOH-lah

Isse vai isse vene
IH-soo VAH-eh IH-soo VEH-neh

Sempe lu pesce mane tene
ZEHM-peh loh BAY-sheh MAH-neh DAY-neh

Se ce 'ncappa la fantasia
zay ching-GAHP-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah

Te pesculia figghiuzza mia
day beh-shoo-LEE-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah

Là lariulà pesce fritt'e baccalà
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH

Uei cumpà no calamare c'eggi'accattà
way goom-BAH noh gah-lah-MAH-leh jeh-jah-kah-TAH

(Second stanza)

C'è 'na luna mezz'u mare
CHEH-neh LOO-neh MEN-zoo MAH-reh

Mamma mia m'a maritare
MAH-mah MEE-ah mah mah-ree-DAH-ray

Figlia mia a cu te dare
FIH-lee-ah MEE-ah GOO-dah-DAH-ray

Mamma mia pensace tu
MAH-mah MEE-ah ben-ZATCH-eh-doo

Se te piglio lu pulezia
zeh-teh BILL-yoo-oh boo-luht-ZEE-ah

Isse vai isse vene
IH-soo VAH-eh IH-soo VEH-neh

Semp'a scuppetta mane tene
ZEHM-peh shkoop-PEHT-tah MAH-neh DAY-neh

Se ce 'ncappa la fantasia
zee ching-GAHP-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah

Te scuppettea figghiuzza mia
day shkoop-peh-TEE-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah

Là lariulà pesce fritt'e baccalà
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH

Uei cumpà 'na scuppetta c'eggi'accattà
way goom-BAH nah shkoo-PEHT-tah jeh-jah-kah-TAH

(And now for you nice ladies and gentlemen out there who don't understand the Eyetalian language, I'd like to do two choruses in British)

Lazy Mary you better get up
She answered back I am not able
Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table

Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There's only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me

You'd better marry a fireman
He'll come and go, go and come

Sempe la pompa mane tene
ZEHM-beh lah BUHM-bah MAH-neh DAY-neh

Se ce 'ncappa la fantasia
zay ching-GAH-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah

Te pomperia figghiuzza mia
deh bohm-BEH-ree-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah

Là lariulà pesce fritt'e baccalà
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH

Uei cumpà 'na pompina c'eggi'accattà
way goom-BAH nah bohm-BEE-nah jeh-jah-kah-TAH

0 cummà ca me voglio marità
oh goom-MAH gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH

Trovame 'na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah

Ca me voglio marità
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH

Trovame 'na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah

Ca me voglio marità
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH

Trovame 'na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah

Ca me voglio marità
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH

Hey!

---
[Still quoting & added some line breaks:]

THE STORY:This is a very risque song. In it a girl tells her mother that the moon over the sea (luna mezz'u mare) makes her want to get married. Her mother asks, who can we give you to? (a cu te dare) The daughter replies, "Mother, what do you think?" (Mamma mia pensace tu). The mother then considers different occupations of men.

In various versions of the original longer tune, they are numerous, including the Butcher, the Baker, the Shoemaker, the Farmer, the Carpenter and the Gardener. Lou's version features the Fisherman, the Policeman, and the Fireman.

For each type she considers, the mother uses a variation on a theme–for example: If I pick for you the fisherman (Se te piglio lu pesciaiole), he'll go, he'll come (isse vai isse vene), he'll always have his fish in his hand (sempe lu pesce mane tene). If he gets an idea in his head (Se ce 'ncappa la fantasia) he'll "fish" you (te pesculia). She repeats this theme for each choice, changing the double entendre of what each has in his hand and what he'll do with it.

Although he sings of the policeman with his rifle in his hand (a scuppetta mane tene) Monte left out the more naughty images of the butcher with his sausage in his hand and the gardener with his cucumber. Most of his English (or as he says,"British") version has nothing to do with the Italian song. There's no mention in the original of anyone named Mary, lazy or otherwise, needing the sheets for the table, etc. But Monte does tie the two together with the ending of the English lyrics segueing back to (as he calls it) "Eyetalian": "you'd better marry a fireman, he'll come and go, go and come...sempe la pompa mane tene (always with his pump in his hand)... te scuppettea (he'll pump you)". The song ends with the exasperated daughter pleading to find her a GIRL to marry (trovame 'na uagliotta* ca me voglio marità)!

*uagliotta variously spelled guagliotta or vagliotta is slang for girl (ragazza or giovinetta in Standard Italian)

[Boys were called "guaglione," at least in Naples.- Rita]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 May 06 - 12:54 PM

The version I posted on 19 Sept 97 isn't quite the same as the version I remember from years ago. The song is so popular, in so many regions of Italy, that versions abound. Bill showed me how to look for mp3's of it (search on "lazy mary" "mp3") and I found this GREAT site with a pretty good transcription of the way Lou Monte sang it. They also have a link called "THE BACKSTORY" that tells who wrote it, etc., plus a downloadable mp3 and lots of places where you can buy Lou Monte's version.


Bob Shannon's Behind The Hits web site

I'll post the transcription in a separate message, but it's worth looking at this whole web site if you really love this song.

Rita F

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From:
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 05:31 PM

Try, www.thenewpaisons.com It's a good site for Italian music(including Luna Mezza Mare).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Lord Astin
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 04:44 AM

"The Godfather" is where I heard the song.
Sounded like an fun song, and it seems like it is.
(In "The Godfather" two men sing the "intro" to the song, then Mama Corleone sings for a while and THEN the old man sings.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Brooke
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 11:08 PM

Yeah, it's the same song from the Godfather.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST,Bob D Caterino
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 04:40 PM

Lazy Mary you better get up you better get up if you are able.

Lazy Mary you better get up we need the sheets to set the table.

Mama said marry a fireman hell go out hell come in and go out and come in.
Lou Monte lived in my neighborhood.
Goomba Message Boards
Go here and they will tell you where to go. lol for the lyrics i mean. dont be funny lol

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Flash Company
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 07:48 AM

I think it may have been Pete Murray in his Radio Luxembourg days that introduced me to this song. He played it night after night for a few weeks (Italian version)and then suddenly stopped.
When someone asked why, he explained that a technician who spoke Italian had translated it for him, his comment was 'I thought they only wrote words like that on walls!'

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 12:20 AM

Is this the song from the wedding scene in the godfather - the old guy sings it then Mama Corleone joins in?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 08:45 PM

G'day Jerry / Ferrara et al,

I'm right out of my territory here ... but last week's e-mail newsletter from Joe Dolce included this (my emphasis):

' ... I've enclosed an excerpt from a wonderful book I'm just reading, Bruculinu, America: Remembrances of Sicilian-American Brooklyn, Told in Stories and Recipes, by Vincent Schiavelli, which I liked so much I typed it up ... it's a moving excerpt so be prepared. I've also added one of the dishes from the book, Sosizza chi Patati, that I made last week and can personally attest to. You may recall the bacalla recipe I passed along last week? Schiavelli gives his own family formula in the book, for this dish, plus these insights:

" Bacccalaru is dried in two forms, one slightly softer and moister than the other. Both, however, are remarkably stiff, resembling a petrified fish fillet. The word baccalaru is also a vulgar Sicilian name for a part of the male anatomy in a particular state. "Stop standin' der like a baccalaru!" or "Dat guy was a real baccalaru!" were common phrases of derision. Baccalaru never entered our house without one of the women giggling a reference to this theme. "

I knew there was I reason I LOVED this dish! ...'

This does suggest that the references to "baccala" in the chorus may just have had some extra humour to the locals!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lazy Mary / Luna Mezza Mare
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 07:54 PM

Ce na luna mezzao mare
Mammamiamho maritari
Figlia mia a cu tho dare?
Mama mia penscitu
Se ti piglia lu pisciaolo
Tssu vai, issu viene
Sempre lu peace a muno tiene
Se cin gappa la fantasia ti pomperia figgiuzza mia
La lario la pisci fritte baccala
Oeh cumpa, na pompina ci haggia catta
Cenata o cumma ca mi voglio marita
Dammi na vagliotta ca mi voglio marita

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQUEST: LAZY MARY/ LUNA MEZZ'O MARE
From: GUEST,Paolo
Date: 12 May 02 - 03:52 PM

Another (Sicilian) version is hereCanzone Italiane

Paolo

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQUEST: LAZY MARY/ LUNA MEZZA MARE
From: Ferrara
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 07:31 AM

Yep. I suspect that Baccala' is the stuff that gave old fashioned Italian delis their interesting aroma of unwashed socks. My dad ate it as a kid in Italy.

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQUEST: LAZY MARY/ LUNA MEZZA MARE
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 22 Sep 97 - 04:04 PM

Is baccala' salt cod? (Bacalao in American Spanish)

Subject: Lyr Add: C'E 'NA LUNA 'MMIEZZO MARE
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Sep 97 - 11:41 PM

Rosalina, There was another request for this song some months ago, which I was able to answer. It should be available in the forum search, but alas, when I searched on my entries, that particular thread didn't show up. Here's the song, as I sent it to Frank. A couple of caveats: I took the song from Sing Out, then Frank and I changed it because we both remembered that it went a little differently and our memories agreed, then I wrote a fairly literal translation that would scan correctly. So it has been processed pretty well, but the Italian (really Neapolitan) is as accurate as I can make it.

My father (born near Naples) had the same Lou Monte record that Barry had, tho I also heard other versions when I was growing up.

C'e Na Luna

Note: The intro is sung at the start of every verse. The refrain is sung after every verse.

Intro: C'e 'na luna 'mmiezzo mare
Mama mi', vo' maritare
Figlia mia, chi da dare,
Mama mia penzate tu.

There's a moon above the sea,
Mama, I want to get married
Daughter mine, who should I give you?
Mama mine, it's up to you.

Refrain: Ai, Ai, A, pesce fritto e baccala
Eh, cumpa', pesce fritto e baccala.

Ay, ay, ah, fried fish and baccala',
Hey, goombah, we have fried fish and baccala'.

1.
Si ti donno lu pisciaulo
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp' e lo piscia a mano tene
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
Piscilea la figlia mia.

If I give you a fisherman
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the fish held in his hand.
If he starts to get ideas
He's gonna fish around my daughter.

2
Si ti donno lu salumeria
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp'e salam' a mano tene
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
Salamia la figlia mia.

If I give you the salami merchant
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the salami in the hand.
If he starts to get ideas
He'll use his salami on my daughter.

3
Si ti donno lu pompero
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp'e la pompe a mano tene
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
Pomperea la figlia mia.

If I give you the fireman (the pumper)
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the pump held in his hand.
If he starts to get ideas
Then he's gonna pump my daughter.

4
Si ti donno lu polizzio
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp'e 'a bastone a mano tene.
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
Bastonea la figlia mia.

If I give you the policeman
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the club held in his hand.
If he starts to get ideas
He'll use his club upon my daughter.

5.
Si ti donno lu scarparo,
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp'e la scarpa a mano tene.
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
La scarpa in testa, la figlia mia.

If I give you the shoemaker
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the shoe held in his hand.
If he starts to get ideas
It's a shoe in the head for you, my daughter.

6.
Si ti donno lu sartore,
Isso va, isso vene,
Semp'e l'ago in mano tene.
Si li piglia 'na fantasia
Con l'ago punge la figlia mia.

If I give you the tailor,
First he goes, then he comes,
Always the needle in his hand.
If he starts to get ideas
He'll stick his needle in my daughter.

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQUEST: LAZY MARY/ LUNA MEZZA MARE
From: Barry
Date: 19 Sep 97 - 09:41 PM

Lazy Mary you better get up
she answered back I am not able
Lazy Mary you better get up
we need the sheets for the table

My advice from me to you from you to me
you smoke in bed there's only one man you can marry
you better marry a fireman
he'll go & come, come & go
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
the rest of what I remember (if I remember it right so far) is in Italian, which I can't help you with.

Barry Finn

Subject: LYRIC REQUEST: LAZY MARY/ LUNA MEZZA MARE
From: Rosalina
Date: 19 Sep 97 - 08:51 PM

Do any Italians visit this site? Does anybody have the words, Italian & English for this song which was released in 1958? It's by Lou Monte on the RCA label. Thanks for any help or advice. Rosa