Ezio from Italy put a thread up on the Highwayman. He reminded me of some Italian songs I've collected. How about you? Any Italian songs?

Here's one I found in a book from the library a long time ago I think called "Botsford's Collections of Folk Songs" . It's also in Win Stracke's "Songs of Man" book (a terrific book with wonderful illustrations by Paul Freeman). It's got similar themes around the world of the daughter who says she's ill and wants something from the garden. The mother offers various foods which the daughter refuses until the mother offers a the gardener. "Yes, yes, yes, that is the cure for my pain and distress!"
In the first verse the mother offers "l'insalata". The second, third, etc verses are exactly the same offering "la patata", "il pomidoro" etc.

Cara Mama Io Sono Malata

Verse I
Cara mama io sono malata
Ma una cosa nell'orto ci sta
E nell'orto ci sta l'insalata
Si tu la vuoi, io te la do

Refrain
Oh, mama no, no, no!
Questo fa male pel male che ho!
Oh, quant' e stupida la mama mia!
Che no conosce la mala tia!
Oh, mama no, no, no!
Questo fa male pel male che ho!

Verse II
la patata

Verse III
il pomidoro

Verse IV
(add more garden items)

next verse
Cara mama io sono malata
Ma una cosa nell'orto ci sta!
E nell'orto ci sta l'ortolano
Si tu la vuoi, io te la do

last refrain
Oh mama, si, si, si!
Questo va bene par farmi guari!
O quant' e cara la mama mia,
Che conosciuto la malattia
Oh mama, si, si, si!
Questo va bene par farmi guari!


Oh, Dear Mama I'm Feeling So Badly
translation: Win Stracke

Verse I
"Oh, dear mama, I'm feeling so badly
Go to the garden and find me a cure"
"Yes, my daughter, I'll pick you some lettuce.
And it will make you feel better I'm sure"

Refrain
"Oh, mama, no, no, no!
That would be bad for me, mama, I know
Why can't you stop being stupid and find me
Something that's good for me and won't upset me?"
"Oh, mama, no, no, no!
That would be bad for me, mama, I know."

Verse II
potatoes

Verse III
tomatoes

Verse IV
(add more garden items)

Last verse
"Oh, dear mama, I'm feeling so badly
Go to the garden and find me a cure"
"Yes, my daughter, I'll bring you the gardener.
And he will make you feel better I'm sure"

Last refrain
"Oh, mama, yes, yes, yes!
That is exactly the thing that I need
Where in the world is there such a mother?
Search as I might, I could ne'er find another
"Oh, mama, yes, yes, yes!
Go find the gardener and bring him with speed."

judy