Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa / Avanti Popolo (Italian)

Subject: Lyr Add: BANDIERA ROSSA
From: Fedele
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:06 PM

This is BANDIERA ROSSA, the MOST Socialist and Communist song in Italy.

1. Avanti popolo, alla riscossa
Bandiera rossa, bandiera rossa
Avanti popolo, alla riscossa
Bandiera rossa trionfera'

Cho 1: Bandiera rossa la trionfera'
Bandiera rossa la trionfera'
Bandiera rossa la trionfera'
Evviva il socialismo [il comunismo] e la liberta'

2. Avanti popolo, tuona il cannone [or: Avanti popolo, alla stazione]
Rivoluzione, rivoluzione
Avanti popolo, tuona il cannone
Rivoluzione vogliamo far

Cho 2: Rivoluzione noi vogliamo far (three times)
Evviva il socialismo e la liberta'

3. Degli sfruttati l'immensa schiera
La pura innalzi rossa bandiera
O proletari, alla riscossa
Bandiera rossa trionferà

Cho 3: As Cho 1, but last line is:
Il frutto del lavoro a chi lavora andra'

4. Dai campi al mare, alla miniera
Dall'officina chi soffre e spera
Sia pronto, e' l'ora della riscossa
Bandiera rossa trionfera'

Cho 4: last line is Soltanto il socialismo e' vera liberta'

5. Non piu' nemici, non piu' frontiere
Sono i confini rosse bandiere
O socialisti, alla riscossa
Bandiera rossa trionfera'

Cho 5: Nel socialismo solo e' pane e liberta'

6. Falange audace, cosciente e fiera
Dispiega al sole rossa bandiera
Lavoratori alla riscossa
Bandiera rossa trionfera'

Cho 6: Chi non lavora non deve mangiar
Chi non lavora non deve mangiar
Chi non lavora non deve mangiar
Evviva il socialismo e la libertà

Cho 7: Anco i signori devon lavorar
Anco i signori devon lavorar
Anco i signori devon lavorar
Evviva il socialismo e la liberta'

Communist use "comunismo" and "comunisti" instead of "socialismo" and "socialisti".
Only the first verse and the first chorus, or sometimes the second verse, are commonly sung. Other verses have probably written by a quite literate writer and are sometimes regarded as "bourgeoise"; you'll find them mostly in records. Verse 2 and Chorus 2 were not sung by reformist Socialists.
Translation: "alla riscossa" means "to arms!" but also "to redemption!"

THE RED FLAG

1. Forward, people, to redemption
The red flag, the red flag
Forward people, to redemption
The red flag will overcome

Cho 1: The red flag will overcome
Long live Socialism and freedom

2. Forward people, the cannon is thundering [to the station!]
Revolution, revolution
...
Revolution we want to make

3. The immense army of the exploited ones
raise the pure red flag.
O proletarians, to redemption!
The red flag will overcome.

Cho 3: The fruit of the labor to the laborers will go.

4. From the fields to the sea, to the mine,
from the factory those who suffer and hope
be ready, it is redemption time,
the red flag will overcome

Cho 4: Only Socialism is real freedom

5: No more enemies, no more borders;
red flags are the borders!
O socialist, to redemption,
the red flag will overcome.

Cho 5: Only in Socialism there are peace and freedom

6: Brave platoon, conscious and proud,
unfolds to the sun the red flag.
Workers, to redemption,
the red flag will overcome.

Cho 6: Who does not work, he must not eat.

Cho 7: Even the lords must work (Anco: dialect for "even")

Cho 7 is popular in Leghorn and my grandma told me that was sung by a drunk Anarchist cleaning maid in her building. The landlord was not very pleased.

Please ask me for more!

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 19-Mar-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: Bert
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:34 PM

Fidele,
Aha, someone who speaks Italian. Take a look at the latest item in the Auction Going cheap

Bert

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 09:32 PM

Italian political songs are the best! And the anarchist maid!! Perfect! Is there a MIDI of the melody somewhere? Oh, yes--MORE!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: canoer
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:48 PM

There's MORE? Seven choruses aren't enough? That beats the Internationale, already. Which also has verses translated into English in the most ridiculous literary style.

Thanks for the translation; always wondered about what was being sung besides "red flag, red flag." :-}
--Larry C.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 05:28 AM

A Midi? There's a German site with lyrics and midis of working class songs (click) and among many other songs (mostly German) you'll find 'Bandiera Rossa' and 'Bella Ciao'. Enjoy.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: Fedele
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 05:37 PM

men, I tried to translate as much as literally and briefly I could. Sorry if I'm not perfect. You could appreciate the effort, boy. Or you could translate it by yourself and not bother me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bandiera Rossa Avanti Popolo - Itali
From: Fedele
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 05:41 PM

SOrry Larry C. about the previous message, I misunderstood what you said! I apologize, I told you I have some problems with English. Sorry Sorry Sorry I didn't mean to offend you. 8-)