Sing Out published a version of Bella Ciao, that was sung by women working in the arborio rice fields, in about the 1930's. They worked under forced labor conditions similar to those in some Chinese factories today.... It's a very powerful song.

I promised the words to Bonnie Milner about 2 years ago and in my own inimitable fashion have just realized that she'll probably be at NOMAD this weekend so finally typed them up. So, I'll take Bonnie a copy, and maybe even a tape, and here they are for any of you who would like them.

The English translation is my own. It is very singable and yet is almost a literal translation. IMHO it's worlds better than the translation in Sing Out.... :-)

OK Max, I'm counting on those automatic linebreaks! This was copied from MS-word, if it doesn't work I'll re-post - Rita

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BELLA CIAO

Alla mattina, appena alzata
        O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Alla mattina, appena alzata
In risaia mi tocca andar'

E tra gli insetti e le zanzare
E' uno duro lavor

Il capo in piedi, col suo bastone,
E noi curve a lavora'

O mamma mia, o che tormento
Io t'invoco ogni mattin'

Verra' un giorno che tutte quante
Lavoreremo in liberta'

At early morning before the daybreak
        Oh love farewell, love farewell, love farewell, goodbye
At early morning before the daybreak
Into the rice fields I must go.

Between the insects and the mosquitoes
The work is bitter hard and long.

The boss stands upright and holds a truncheon
While we curve our backs and slave

Oh mamma mia this life is torment
Every morn you'll hear me cry

There'll come a morning when every woman
Will live and work in liberty.