Origins: Funiculi Funicula

14 May 99 - 10:22 PM (#78588)
Subject: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From:

I am looking for the words to the song Finiculi Finicula, my family has it on 45 somewhere, but I can't get to it.

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15 May 99 - 02:04 AM (#78618)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: gargoyle

Last night
I stayed up late
And masterbated

It felt so good
I knew it would

Last night
I stayed up late
And masterbated

It felt so nice
I did it twice

You should have seen me on the long strokes
It felt so neat
I used my feet I used my hand

Wrap it round the bed-post
Shoot it out the door

No doubt these are the REAL family lyrics she is looking for....and no doubt some Mudcatter can remember the rest and put them into the correct sequence.

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15 May 99 - 04:36 PM (#78727)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From:

thank you!

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15 May 99 - 04:59 PM (#78729)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Susan of DT

It is in the database. I searched for [fun and frolic] in the big blue search box in the upper right to avoid the how to spell funiculi problem.

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16 May 99 - 07:38 PM (#78986)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: John in Brisbane

Since reading this thread I've searched in vain for the Italian lyrics, but no luck! I must admit that I don't know the song's origin.

Regards
John

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16 May 99 - 09:49 PM (#79017)
Subject: Tune Add: FINICULI FUNICULA
From: John in Brisbane

But here's the tune which is not in the database. Regards, John

MIDI file: funiculi.mid

Timebase: 120

TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: D
Tempo: 130 (461538 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0358 1 69 114 0127 1 74 110 0005 0 69 000 0245 0 74 000 0057 1 74 108 0020 0 74 000 0023 1 73 098 0033 0 73 000 0037 1 73 089 0020 0 73 000 0025 1 69 106 0040 0 69 000 0039 1 69 104 0024 0 69 000 0025 1 71 099 0033 0 71 000 0040 1 71 086 0022 0 71 000 0027 1 66 093 0059 0 66 000 0053 1 66 098 0178 0 66 000 0026 1 66 089 0025 0 66 000 0022 1 64 118 0038 0 64 000 0034 1 62 104 0021 0 62 000 0024 1 62 108 0272 0 62 000 0045 1 66 100 0027 0 66 000 0018 1 64 096 0033 0 64 000 0040 1 62 108 0020 0 62 000 0027 1 62 108 0252 0 62 000 0417 1 69 110 0023 0 69 000 0025 1 74 108 0257 0 74 000 0044 1 74 108 0021 0 74 000 0039 1 73 083 0053 0 73 000 0007 1 73 086 0026 0 73 000 0034 1 69 098 0040 0 69 000 0050 1 69 110 0019 0 69 000 0041 1 71 076 0022 0 71 000 0038 1 71 075 0021 0 71 000 0009 1 66 077 0029 0 66 000 0084 1 66 082 0135 0 66 000 0056 1 66 090 0027 0 66 000 0024 1 64 090 0044 0 64 000 0044 1 62 108 0018 0 62 000 0027 1 62 106 0253 0 62 000 0056 1 66 092 0026 0 66 000 0021 1 64 095 0029 0 64 000 0050 1 62 108 0017 0 62 000 0024 1 62 106 0461 0 62 000 0195 1 66 086 0054 0 66 000 0006 1 66 106 0234 0 66 000 0075 1 66 085 0026 0 66 000 0020 1 68 077 0033 0 68 000 0038 1 68 093 0024 0 68 000 0023 1 66 087 0036 0 66 000 0038 1 66 089 0022 0 66 000 0022 1 68 100 0038 0 68 000 0035 1 68 095 0026 0 68 000 0020 1 66 092 0060 0 66 000 0063 1 66 099 0153 0 66 000 0043 1 61 085 0020 0 61 000 0025 1 61 087 0045 0 61 000 0034 1 61 076 0022 0 61 000 0024 1 61 080 0263 0 61 000 0046 1 61 080 0022 0 61 000 0025 1 61 085 0023 0 61 000 0053 1 61 082 0022 0 61 000 0027 1 61 096 0129 0 61 000 0291 1 69 109 0054 0 69 000 0013 1 69 082 0275 0 69 000 0032 1 69 108 0022 0 69 000 0020 1 71 099 0038 0 71 000 0032 1 71 077 0033 0 71 000 0006 1 69 096 0044 0 69 000 0038 1 69 098 0025 0 69 000 0020 1 71 113 0047 0 71 000 0029 1 71 089 0030 0 71 000 0011 1 69 106 0061 0 69 000 0055 1 69 098 0147 0 69 000 0053 1 64 089 0027 0 64 000 0023 1 64 085 0033 0 64 000 0039 1 64 077 0027 0 64 000 0021 1 64 085 0283 0 64 000 0036 1 64 080 0023 0 64 000 0019 1 64 103 0038 0 64 000 0037 1 64 081 0022 0 64 000 0021 1 64 098 0357 0 64 000 0141 1 73 092 0077 0 73 000 0037 1 71 095 0051 0 71 000 0062 1 73 095 0098 0 73 000 0017 1 71 098 0100 0 71 000 0018 1 74 100 0024 0 74 000 0044 1 73 087 0021 0 73 000 0039 1 71 091 0029 0 71 000 0031 1 74 100 0020 0 74 000 0037 1 73 087 0198 0 73 000 0050 1 73 095 0085 0 73 000 0033 1 71 105 0073 0 71 000 0043 1 73 107 0102 0 73 000 0014 1 71 103 0078 0 71 000 0044 1 74 104 0029 0 74 000 0048 1 73 089 0024 0 73 000 0026 1 71 096 0034 0 71 000 0052 1 74 106 0026 0 74 000 0004 1 69 109 0040 0 69 000 0050 1 66 087 0023 0 66 000 0007 1 66 076 0026 0 66 000 0064 1 66 086 0023 0 66 000 0010 1 66 086 0045 0 66 000 0034 1 66 085 0020 0 66 000 0026 1 66 089 0036 0 66 000 0038 1 66 089 0019 0 66 000 0025 1 66 089 0041 0 66 000 0035 1 66 085 0020 0 66 000 0021 1 66 072 0030 0 66 000 0046 1 66 085 0020 0 66 000 0025 1 66 080 0033 0 66 000 0042 1 66 079 0021 0 66 000 0022 1 66 074 0027 0 66 000 0048 1 66 089 0021 0 66 000 0024 1 74 100 0209 0 74 000 0030 1 76 087 0035 0 76 000 0042 1 74 096 0024 0 74 000 0021 1 73 086 0046 0 73 000 0028 1 71 077 0026 0 71 000 0037 1 69 078 0043 0 69 000 0027 1 66 079 0021 0 66 000 0009 1 66 060 0052 0 66 000 0038 1 67 084 0025 0 67 000 0005 1 69 068 0029 0 69 000 0031 1 67 080 0024 0 67 000 0036 1 66 074 0054 0 66 000 0036 1 64 092 0021 0 64 000 0014 1 62 092 0199 0 62 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Funiculi Funicula M:4/4
Q:1/4=126
K:D
A8|d21/4d3/4cc3/4A/4|-A5/4A3/4B5/4B3/4F7/4F9/4|
-F5/4F3/4E5/4D3/4D4|-D5/4F3/4E5/4D3/4D4|-D29/4A3/4|
d5dcc|A3/2ABB/2F2F2|-FFE3/2D3/4D15/4|-D5/4F3/4E3/2D/2D4|
-D7F|F21/4F3/4^G^G|FF3/4^G5/4^G3/4F9/4F2|
-F5/4C3/4C5/4C3/4C4|-C5/4C3/4C5/4C3/4C4|-C3AA4|
-A5/4A3/4BB3/4A5/4A3/4B3/2B/2A/4|-A7/4A13/4EEE|
E21/4E3/4E5/4E3/4|E8|-E/4c7/4B2c2B7/4d/4|
-dcBdc4|c2B2c2B2|d5/4c3/4B3/2d/2A3/2F/2F3/2F/2|
F5/4FFF3/4F5/4F3/4F5/4F3/4|F5/4F3/4F5/4F3/4d4|
e5/4d3/4c5/4BA5/4F/2F3/2G/2|AGF3/2E/2D7/2||

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16 May 99 - 10:01 PM (#79021)
Subject: Lyr Add: FUNICULI FUNICULA bawdy parody
From: gargoyle

Warping back to early adolescent memories; this one is a little more difficult to recall:

However, once again, with a refreshed memory.

Last night I stayed up late and masturbated
It felt so good
I knew it would
Last night I stayed up late and masturbated
It felt so nice
I did it twice
You should have seen me on the long strokes
It felt so neat
I used my feet
You should have seen me on the long strokes
It felt so grand
I used my hand
Splash it, dash it, down across the floor
Wrap it round the bedpost, shoot it out the door
It felt so good
I knew it would
It felt so nice
I did it twice
Some people like to fornicate
But I would rather masturbate

OR

Some people like to fuck a chick
But I would rather beat my prick
^^

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17 May 99 - 03:36 AM (#79075)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Steve Parkes

Seems to me there's a moral to be drawn from this thread ...

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17 May 99 - 04:27 AM (#79079)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: bseed(charleskratz)

And what does God-who-spells-His-name-with-a-capital-letter think about that, Gargoyle? --seed

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17 May 99 - 05:28 AM (#79083)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: gargoyle

I suppose the "gods" of the Mudcat Digital Database of FOLK MUSIC are quite happy to have another new set of lyrics added to their collection.

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17 May 99 - 11:19 AM (#79134)
Subject: Lyr Add: FUNICULI FUNICULA (Italian)
From: Jon W.

Getting back to reality, I believe I posted these Italian words a year or two ago but the forum search failed so I'll post them again:

FUNICULI FUNICULA

Stasera, nina mia, viam sul' monte
Un passo c'e. Un passo c'e.
Si vede Francia, Portceddu, la Spagna,
Io veggo a te. Io veggo a te.
La testa gira gira intorno intorno
Intorno a te. Intorno a te.
E il cuore canta come il primo giorno.
Ti sposa a me. Ti sposa a me.

Chorus:
Lesti, lesti via'l monton' su la
Lesti, lesti via'l monton' su la
Funiculi, funicula funiculi funicula
Via'l monton su la, funiculi funicula.

English translation:
This evening, little girl, we climb the mountain
The view to see. The view to see.
One looks on France and Portugal and Spain,
It's you I see, it's you I see.
The head is dizzy whirling 'round and 'round
With thoughts of thee, with thoughts of thee.
And the heart, it sings with Eden's sound
You'll marry me. You'll marry me.

Joyful, joyful up on the mountain high
Joyful, joyful up on the mountain high
Funicula, funiculi, funicula funiculi
Up on the mountain high funicula funiculi.

Note: A "funiculare" was a train equipped with a gear which engaged a toothed track for climbing steep mountainsides.
^^

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18 May 99 - 07:56 AM (#79414)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: John in Brisbane

Thanks for the lyrics Jonn W. Regards, John

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18 May 99 - 08:07 PM (#79650)
Subject: Funiculi Funicula.
From: Joe Offer

Just a slight correction, Jon. As this library's Webster's New World says, a funicular or funicular railway is a mountain railway on which counterbalanced cars on parallel sets of rails are pulled up and lowered by cables. The definition doesn't quite fit my experience - the funicular railways I've ridden have parallel rails only at the point where the two cars would meet. There's a single rail for most of the distance. If you sit in the front of the car, it looks like the other car is going to run right into you, but then it turns away at the last moment and misses you by inches. In my book, it's more fun than a roller coaster. I ride 'em wherever I find 'em. The most memorable ones I've ridden are the newly restored Angel's Flight in downtown Los Angeles, the two across the river from downtown Pittsburgh, and the one that goes to the castle in Salzburg, Austria.
Mega-cool.
-Joe Offer, rail fan-

...but the song doesn't seem to have much to do with railroads, does it?

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This site has Italian and German lyrics: https://ingeb.org/Lieder/dasmeerd.html

Peppino Turco Aieressera, oi' ne', me ne sagliette, tu saie addo'? tu saie addo'? Addo' 'stu core 'ngrato cchiu' dispietto farme nun po'! farme nun po'! Addo' lo fuoco coce, ma si fuie te lassa sta! te lassa sta! E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struie, 'ncielo a guarda'! 'ncielo a guarda'! Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja', funiculi', funicula'! Ne'... jammo da la terra a la montagna! no passo nc'e'! Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna Io veco a tte! Tirato co la fune, ditto 'nfatto, 'ncielo se va.. Se va comm' 'a lu viento a l'intrasatto, gue', saglie sa'! Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja', funiculi', funicula'! Se n' 'e' sagliuta, oi' ne', se n' 'e' sagliuta la capa già! E' gghiuta, po' e' turnata, po' e' venuta sta sempe cca'! La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno, attuorno a tte! Sto core canta sempe nu taluorno Sposammo, oi' ne'! Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja', funiculi', funicula'!

Das Meer, Das blaue Meer, Die gold'ne Sonne Und auch den Mond, Und auch den Mond, Die kann man nur erleben in Italien? Die Reise lohnt, Die Reise lohnt! Der Wein, Der rote Wein in der Taverne Ist weltbekannt, Ist weltbekannt. Die Frau'n, Sie haben Augen wie die Sterne In diesem Land, In diesem Land. Aber bella, bella musica Ist das Schönste in Italia! Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula! Bella musica! Funiculi, funicula!

Melody - Luigi Denza, 1880
https://ingeb.org/Lieder/funiculi.mid

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19 May 99 - 06:48 PM (#79926)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Jon W.

Well anyway, they are railroads that carry passengers up mountainsides, which is how the two lovers got to the top of the mountain where they could see France, Portugal, and Spain all at the same time-the mountain must have been D**ned high or else it's somewhere in the western Pyrenees (SP?)

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20 May 99 - 07:52 AM (#80057)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Ferrara

This song was written in Naples and environs, in around the 1880's, when a funicular railway was installed that I believe goes part way up the side of Mount Vesuvius. The Neapolitans immediately wrote a song about it. The Italian words that I know are about a fellow who "Goes up" where there is "hot fire" to see his sweetie, who is, so to speak, cold to him. The connection with the funicular is implied: he rides it up the mountain. The chorus just has fun with the name "funicular."

I was told in Naples that a funicular is a cog-wheel railway.

Whoops. Got to go. More on this later, as well, I hope, as an alternate set of Italian words. - Rita Ferrara

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20 May 99 - 05:01 PM (#80203)
Subject: Lyr Add: FUNICULI, FUNICULA (English lyrics)
From: bigJ

I was looking through Dick & Beth Best's 'New Song Fest' in response to another thread and there on page 82 is Funiculi, Funicula with the first two verses as campfire gives them plus a third:-

Some think it wrong to set the feet a-dancing
But not so I! But not so I!
Some think that eyes should keep from coyly glancing,
Upon the sly! Upon the sly!
But, oh! To me the mazy dance is charming,
Divinely sweet! Divinely sweet!
And surely there is naught that is alarming
In nimble feet! In nimble feet!

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21 May 99 - 07:48 AM (#80420)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Ferrara

Still too lazy to look up those words, but here's what I was going to say about funiculars. What I was told in Naples was that the cogwheel actually helps propel the train up the mountain. There may or may not be two parallel tracks for the wheels (in Naples I believe there were), but under the train there is a notched single track which engages the cogs in the cogwheel. That's about all I know about it, except that the Neapolitans are very proud of their funicular railway.

Once I'm properly awake, I'll try to find my Italian songbooks and post some more words. - Rita Ferrara

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22 May 99 - 04:14 AM (#80699)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Funiculi Funicula.
From: Joe Offer

The word funicular comes from the Latin word for cord or rope, so I'm sure the original meaning was rail cars pulled by cables. Human nature being what it is, the meaning of the word could certainly have expanded to include cog-wheel railways. Funiculars don't work well for long distances or around curves, so a cog-wheel railway would be more likely on a mountain. It's worth a trip to Pittsburgh or Salzburg to ride a real funicular, though.
-Joe Offer-

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22 May 99 - 10:29 AM (#80737)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Ferrara

Joe, I where is there a funicular in Salzburg? Up to the top of the castle, maybe? I rode a cable car there but don't remember any funicular. ?

Maybe the one in Naples used a combination of cogwheels and ropes or cables? Actually I think it's still running. - Rita

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14 Jun 99 - 10:42 AM (#86553)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Snobby

Who knows the German words of this aria in bawdy "lesbisch, lesbisch ... tausen nackte ... auf dem Männerpissoir"? A little bit ashamed for the question Snobby

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15 Jun 99 - 08:57 AM (#86814)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Lesley N.

bigJ - My source has the additional verse as the second verse rather than the third (?) According to The Scottish Students Songbook (first edition 1897, this edition 1897), the tune was by L. Denza. The words in it, by Edward Oxenford (except for Listen! instead of Harken!), are pretty much the same as the Rise Up Singing lyrics.

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16 Jun 01 - 09:32 AM (#484958)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: pavane

Sorry to revive this ancient histoyr, but I think gargoyle may have missed out the last lines, which I recall as

Some people think that sexual intercourse is really rather grand
But speaking for meself I'd rather do it in me hand

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16 Jun 01 - 05:00 PM (#485107)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Snuffy

Wan't "whirl it, twirl it" in there somewhere?

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16 Jun 01 - 05:27 PM (#485116)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: pavane

I have 'Ease it, Tease it, Squeeze it in the door ' as part of a version I remember - my cousin used to sing it down at the 'Prospect of Whitby' in the 1960's

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17 Jun 01 - 12:05 AM (#485264)
Subject: Lyr Add: FÚNICÚLÍ FÚNICÚLA (Gaelic)
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)

FÚNICÚLÍ FÚNICÚLA (i nGhaeilge)

Tá daoine ann gur breá leo sult is suairceas
Mo dhálta fhéin
Is daoine nach foláir leo bheith go gruama
'S go cásmhar claon
Horo! is geal liom féinig bheith go síoraí
Ag déanamh ceoil
Horo! Ar nós na n-éanlaith ar na crainnte
Ar séis um nóin

(Curfá:)
Hó ró hó ró! sult is greann is ceol!
Hó ró hó ró! sult is greann is ceol!
Fá la la lá; Fá la la lá
Fá la la lá; Fá la la lá
Sult is greann is ceol
Fá la la lá--Fá la la lá
(deireadh curfá)

i m' mhóide féin ba dhúr an cás an saol seo
Gan foinn san cheoil
Go deo ba lénmhar dubhach dó na n-éagmais,
Faoi shior-dhúbhrón,
Hóró! ardaímis ceol anois go haerach
Le mórtas croí
Hóró! 'gus bios gach glór le clos in éineacht
go ceolmhar binn!

(Curfá)

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17 Jun 01 - 04:30 AM (#485340)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: pavane

Is that a polite version or the bawdy one?

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18 Jun 01 - 03:53 AM (#485830)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: Escamillo

Re: my last message, the letter "j" should be pronounced as in German, phonetically "ee" as in the English word "you". The rest follows the rules of Italian.

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16 Jan 03 - 06:14 PM (#868754)
Subject: RE: I am looking for workds to Finiculi Funicula.
From: GUEST,Margherman

Thank you, thank you. I have been looking for the lyrics to Finiculi, Finicula for a week, so my daughter and I can sing -- full voice -- along with a double-CD set of Italian songs she got for Christmas. I finally have the version on the CD from Jon W. and others, besides. When I started looking, I was disappointed to find only an English version. This is great.

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15 Nov 03 - 03:43 PM (#1054279)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

Here is some additional information on the original lyrics I found at:
http://www.vesuvioinrete.it/funicolare/e_funicolare_funiculi.htm
with the picture of the title page of the sheet music and midi file

The song was written by journalist Peppino Turco and was set by Luigi Denza in 1880. They drew the inspiration from the inauguration of the first funicular of Mt.Vesuvius. They composed this music in few hours, and in spite of that the song met with success. The famous melody was sang the first time in the rooms of Quisisana Hotel in Castellammare di Stabia. Turco and Denza presented it to the Piedigrotta's day in the same year. The success roused contributed to diffuse Neapolitan song in the world and to recall a lot of tourists.

Original text - Neapolitan dialect

Aieressera, oi' ne', me ne sagliette,
tu saie addo'?
Addo' 'stu core 'ngrato cchiu' dispietto farme nun po'!
Addo' lo fuoco coce, ma si fuie
te lassa sta!
E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struie, 'ncielo a guarda'!...
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!



Ne'... jammo da la terra a la montagna! no passo nc'e'!
Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna...
Io veco a tte!
Tirato co la fune, ditto 'nfatto,
'ncielo se va..
Se va comm' 'a lu viento a l'intrasatto, gue', saglie sa'!
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!



Se n' 'e' sagliuta, oi' ne', se n' 'e' sagliuta la capa già!
E' gghiuta, po' e' turnata, po' e' venuta...
sta sempe cca'!
La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a tte!
Sto core canta sempe
nu taluorno
Sposammo, oi' ne'!
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!
Do you know where I got on, yesterday evening, baby?
Where this ungrateful heart can't be spiteful to me more!
Where the fire burns, but if you
run away it let you go!
And it doesn't run after you,
doesn't tire you, looking at sky!...
Let go on, let go, let go,
funiculi', funicula'!

English language text

We go from the ground to the
mountain, baby! Without walking!
You can see France, Procida and
Spain...
I see you!
Pulled by a rope, no sooner said
than done, we go to the skies..
We go like the wind all of a sudden, go up, go up!
Let go on, let go, let go,
funiculi', funicula'!



The head has already got on,
baby, got on!
It has gone, then returned, then
come...
It is still here!
The head turns, turns, around,
around,
around you!
This heart always sings one of these days Get married to me, baby!
Let go on, let go, let go,
funiculi', funicula'!

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15 Nov 03 - 04:45 PM (#1054308)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: smokin

you will find the lyrics together with many other italian songs at http://ingeb.org/catit.html

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15 Nov 03 - 08:36 PM (#1054441)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: masato sakurai

Click here for the recording below:

Performer: Harry Macdonough, tenor ; Haydn Quartet, with orchestra
Title: Funiculi, funicula = A merry heart / [E. Oxenford, lyrics] ; [L.] Denza, music
Generic Label: Berliner
Recorded: 15 Oct 1908 , Camden, NJ by Victor Talking Machine

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15 Jan 04 - 04:58 AM (#1093167)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,Sue

Can anyone do a literal translation of the Pavarotti version of this (the words are listed on this thread)? None of the translations I can find seem to bear much resemblance to this more original Pavarotti version. Thanks all.

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15 Jan 04 - 07:07 AM (#1093211)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Dave Bryant

There are many of the rope-pulled mountain or (more usually cliff) railways in the UK - Hastings and Bridgenorth come to mind.

Perhaps the Foxton Inclined Plane (for canal narrow boats) would also count as as a furnicula - they're talking about restoring it.

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15 Jan 04 - 10:54 AM (#1093363)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Stilly River Sage

Is this an original tune that we associate with this song? For some reason I associate it with an opera (but I can't remember which one right now).

SRS

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15 Jan 04 - 11:06 AM (#1093377)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Dave Bryant

It doesn't come from an opera - even though it's a favourite of Italian opera singers - a bit like Bryn Terfel singing Welsh songs.
it's usually described as a Neapolitan Song.

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30 Mar 04 - 09:11 PM (#1150590)
Subject: ADD: Funiculi Funicula (Tall Silk Hat)^^^
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

My father, who grew up in Toronto and is now 85 taught me the words as:

One day, I chanced to take upon the trolley,
My tall silk hat, my tall silk hat.
I laid it gently on the seat beside me,
My tall silk hat, my tall silk hat.
A big fat lady came and sat upon it.
My tall silk hat, my tall silk hat.
A big fat lady came and sat upon it.
My tall silk hat, my tall silk hat.
Chistopher Columbus, whaddya think o that?
A big fat lady sat upon my hat.
My hat she broke, now that's no joke.
My hat she broke, now that's no joke.
Chistopher Columbus, whaddya think o that?

Just thought it was interesting..obviously the predecessor to the subway version..or at least the canadian version.

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19 May 04 - 12:23 PM (#1188576)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,Lao-tseu

Thx you all. Preparing a program on napoletanean songs on French public radio, I was glad to find here what I could find nowhere else: a translation of these lyrics... not speaking napoletane, it would have been difficult.

As for gargoyle's version, I'm still waiting for the CD to be available over here.

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25 May 04 - 12:18 PM (#1193779)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

As posted by Escamilo, the song was written originally by G. Turco with music by Luigi Denza, 1880.
Will S. Rising first made it a hit in 1885 in New York, with a version called "Jammo! Onward Let Us Go," published by Willis Woodward and Co., NY, and written by Sidney Rosenfeld.

Rosenfeld's words, as sung by Rising, are given in pdmusic: Jammo
Public Domain Music gives the English revision (three verses) and the Neopolitan original.

Chorus:
Jammo Jammo, Onward let us go,
Jammo Jammo, Upward let us go,
Funiculi, funicula,
Funiculi, funicula,
Ncoppa jammo ja "Funiculi, funicula."
(pronounded yammo)
This may be posted in another of the threads.

---

25 May 04 - 04:28 PM (#1193895)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Cool Beans

Years ago, when folk song parodies were getting airplay (Allan Sherman, "My Son the Folksinger" et el.) even imitators had imitators. One of the Allan Sherman derivatives, I forget who, did a song called "Marvin" to the tune of Funiculi, Funicula.

All I remember are the beginning, a bit of the chorus and the last line. Feel free to fill in the gaps.

Some think that raising kids is so bucolic
But that's a lie
But that's a lie.
With Marvin, I could become an alcoholic
And here is why
And here is why....

(chorus)
Marvin, Marvin, you're a rotten kid.
Why can't you be like your brother Sid?
da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum,
da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum
Stop chewing on your teddy bear
You're 28 years old.

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31 Jul 04 - 02:11 PM (#1237925)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

The Marvin Version can be found here:

http://www.geocities.com/vienna/opera/8536/MarvinSong.html

They often have bandwith problems, and the song is oddly chopped into three sections, but, oh, what a song!

-PK

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25 Feb 05 - 12:24 PM (#1420804)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,Litefantastic

Blatantly ignoring the fact that this thread is 6 years old:

Does anyone know where I can get a public-domain MIDI or some PD sheetmusic for this?

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https://ingeb.org/Lieder/funiculi.mid

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25 Feb 05 - 08:24 PM (#1421151)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: masato sakurai

Midi arangements are:

Karls Midi Page

funiculi funicula

The MIDI Archive - Classical MIDI Files & Lyrics

NAPOLI MIDI - gratis MIDI e basi musicali - MIDI NAPOLETANI gratis

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26 Feb 05 - 10:12 AM (#1421450)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Flash Company

Ian Wallace had a version of this about the London to Brighton Run;-

The laughed at me, they laughed at you,
They laughed at Ma, they laughed at Pa,
When we went to Brighton in our famous motor-car.

Don't have the rest of the words, anyone know it?

FC

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09 Apr 05 - 01:36 PM (#1456327)
Subject: Lyr Add: MARVIN, YOU'RE A ROTTEN KID
From: GUEST,A wealth of useless information

MARVIN, YOU'RE A ROTTEN KID
(Christine Nelson)

Some think that kids should be in bed by seven,
And so do I,
And so do I.

But Marvin won't go to bed before eleven,
He starts to cry,
And so do I.

One time I thought that I would slip a mickey,
Into his juice,
His orange juice.

I tried but oh that kid is really tricky,
He switched the glass,
So what's the use?

(Chorus)
Marvin, Marvin, you're a rotten kid.
Marvin, Marvin, be like your brother Sid.
I'm getting grey, so go away; now just for once do what I say,
Go and play in traffic, don't come back 'til Saturday


Some think that raising kids is so bucolic,
I always did,
I really did.

With Marvin, I could become an alcoholic,
I almost did,
But he's my kid.

We bought a car for him to ride to school in,
A Jag-u-are,
Is that bizarre?

Then he insisted that we put a pool in,
Not in the yard,
But in the car.

(Chorus)
Marvin, Marvin, you're a rotten kid.
Marvin, Marvin, I'm gonna flip my lid.
It's such a sin; It's such a crime.
You're just so rotten all the time!
I wish that I could sell you but I wouldn't get a dime!
I wish that I could sell you but I wouldn't get a dime!

Some think that kids today are awfully thankless,
You ask me why,
I'll tell you why.

It stems from the fact today that kids are spankless,
And yet they cry,
Oh how they cry.

We tried to buy him everything we're able,
We bought him clothes,
A brand new nose.

Marvin, get out from underneath that table,
Your brand new nose,
Just ripped my hose.

(Chorus)
Marvin, Marvin, you're a rotten kid.
Marvin, Marvin, look at what you did
Don't break my heart; Do as you're told,
You know you're mommy hates to scold!
Stop chewing on your teddy bear,
You're twen-tee-eight-years old.

---

09 Apr 05 - 08:48 PM (#1456653)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Taffy2

Getting serious for a while -
This song is sung in English by Mario Lanza, and in Italian by John McCormack.
I know this 'cos I have both of 'em!

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15 Apr 05 - 11:51 AM (#1462218)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,Dawgpound

Does anybody remember this song from the 1983 movie "Easy Money" starring Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesci? There was a wedding scene in a tiny Staten Island, NY back-yard where Rodney sang this with an Italian folk band. Where can I find a recording of the song with Rodney singing it? I searched for the films soundtrack but came up empty.

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19 Sep 05 - 02:42 AM (#1566445)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

I too thought it came from an opera! Why does no-one else seem to think this?

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30 Oct 06 - 10:07 PM (#1872680)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

Aieressera, oi' ne', me ne sagliette,
tu saie addo'?
Addo' 'stu core 'ngrato cchiu' dispietto farme nun po'!
Addo' lo fuoco coce, ma si fuie
te lassa sta!
E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struie, 'ncielo a guarda'!...
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!


Ne'... jammo da la terra a la montagna! no passo nc'e'!
Se vede Francia, Proceta e la Spagna...
Io veco a tte!
Tirato co la fune, ditto 'nfatto,
'ncielo se va..
Se va comm' 'a lu viento a l'intrasatto, gue', saglie sa'!
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!


Se n' 'e' sagliuta, oi' ne', se n' 'e' sagliuta la capa già!
E' gghiuta, po' e' turnata, po' e' venuta...
sta sempe cca'!
La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a tte!
Sto core canta sempe
nu taluorno
Sposammo, oi' ne'!
Jammo 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculi', funicula'!

---

31 Oct 06 - 03:35 AM (#1872785)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

Is there any truth in the story we were told by an Italian guide on a recent visit to Vesuvius that the song was commissioned by the builders of the railway as an advertising jingle to draw custom away from the donkey drivers who, up to then had brought visitors to the top of the mountain?
Jim Carroll

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31 Oct 06 - 09:27 AM (#1872956)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Lighter

The English translation posted by campfire at the top of this thread appeared prominently in "The Fireside Book of Folk Songs" in 1949. As many American 'Catters may recall, this was an extremely popular book for elementary schools.

It's loaded with great old songs, melodies, and illustrations, and appears on eBay all the time for about $10.

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31 Oct 06 - 12:25 PM (#1873108)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

A good source for this and other Neapolitan songs, easily searchable. In many cases, the translation into Italian also is given.
http://medivia.sele.it/inglese/canzoni
Neapolitan

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10 Dec 09 - 09:18 PM (#2785843)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

See Jerry Silverman's "Folk Song Encyclopedia" Vol. I pg. 294.

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10 May 10 - 12:18 PM (#2903764)
Subject: Lyric Pronunciation Required
From: GUEST,PixelHead777

Blatantly ignoring any form of date,

Having all these different lyrics is good and all...

You know what would be really nice?

I have a vocal book, "Pavarotti Forever". It has this song in it.

It doesn't have how to pronounce it.

And NEITHER DOES THE INTERNET. I look up pronunciation of the song, nothing, I look up the song on youtube at fifty percent speed to make it translatable, nothing.
I look up the language of Neapolitan, to hopefully find pronunciation.
NOTHING.

Help a singer out, will you?

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OmVRQGMKAg

---

13 May 10 - 10:22 PM (#2906498)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Jim Dixon

I don't speak Italian, but I've heard that Italian is a phonetic language; that is, if you know how a word is spelled, then you know how it is supposed to be pronounced, and vice versa. That's assuming you have learned a few simple rules about how various letters and letter-combinations are pronounced.

I don't know, but I would guess the various dialects of Italian work the same way—that is, they change the spelling as necessary to indicate how each word is pronounced in each dialect, but they still follow rigid rules.

In addition, there might be some vowel shifts that are too subtle to be represented with spelling changes, but you might be able to ignore these without being too far wrong.

So what you probably need to do is (1) learn how to pronounce standard Italian, (2) get a reliable printed text written in Neapolitan, and (3) apply the rules you have learned to the text.

Look here: Italian alphabet and Italian phonology at Wikipedia. (That last article is disappointingly technical. Maybe you can find something easier.)

On second thought, maybe you can skip that article and go directly to this one, which looks easier: Neapolitan language (What? They call it a language instead of a dialect? Shows you how much I know!)

Also, look at the links at the bottom of those pages.

Don't take anything I have said as gospel, but I hope it's good enough to get you started.

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02 Aug 13 - 05:09 PM (#3544818)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Jim Dixon

There's a fine video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44UC6muN8KY

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02 Aug 13 - 06:41 PM (#3544847)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST,Gerry

The liner notes for the album Suitcase Serenata by the Australian band I Viaggiatori say,

When the new funicular railway was built to go up Mount Vesuvius, no one wanted to travel on it, fearing for their lives. The owners, worried about losing business, commissioned Peppino Turco and Luigi Denza in 1880 to compose a song to commemorate, and encourage people to use, the railway.

---

02 Aug 13 - 08:12 PM (#3544891)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Joe Offer

I found this interesting entry, dated February 2004, at travelmole.com. Sounds hopeful.

Vesuvius railway to reopen after 60 years

Some 60 years after it was last used, the famous Thomas Cook funicular railway on Italy's Mount Vesuvius is set to reopen. The railway, which was opened in 1880, and had to be rebuilt after the volcano erupted in 1910, was shut in 1944, when the last major eruption happened. Now, according to The Times newspaper, the railway is to be restored to its former glory following an agreement between the Campagnia region of Italy, the Vesuvius National Park and the Vesuvius Observatory. Amilcare Troiano, of the Vesuvius National Park, reportedly told the newspaper that the railway will initially run from San Vito to the observatory, some 200 metres from the top of the famous mountain, and that eventually it would be extended to the very top of the volcano. Thomas Cook and Sons owned and operated the railway from 1888. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
Friday, February 13, 2004

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this not-so-hopeful entry in the Telegraph, dated 15 May 2007:

£20m railway line under the cloud of Vesuvius and mafia war

By Malcolm Moore in Naples12:01AM BST 15 May 2007
A £5.5 billion transport project in Italy that includes a railway to ferry tourists to the top of Vesuvius has become mired in controversy amid warnings of an imminent volcanic eruption and a mafia war at the foot of the mountain.

Herculaneum, a town at the foot of the volcano, is to be the first stop on a £20 million reconstruction of Thomas Cook's 19th-century funicular railway. However, there is a "one-in-two" chance of the volcano erupting in the next few years. A survey of the volcano last month warned that 300,000 people could die in an eruption.
"The rule is that the longer the period of inactivity, the bigger the eruption," said Augusto Neri, of the National Geophysical and Vulcanology Institute.
Vesuvius erupted eight times in the 19th century, and in 1906, 1929 and 1944. The last eruption destroyed the original railway.
The new project, to be completed in 2009, is to be financed mostly by the European Union.
Alessandro Crocetta, a spokesman for the regional transport authority, was relaxed about the apparent threat. He said: "Well, if it erupts, it erupts." The decision is all the more remarkable considering that only four years ago, the city council launched a £500 million compensation scheme to move villagers away from the volcano.
A law was passed forbidding further construction within 1.5 miles of Vesuvius, about five miles from Naples.
The 550,000 people who lived in houses inside the "red zone" were offered £20,000 towards the cost of a new house somewhere else.
Almost half of Herculaneum's population took the offer and abandoned their homes. The departure of locals left the way open for the Camorra, the local mafia, to move into their homes.
The area is now regarded as one of the most dangerous parts of the city as gangs wage a turf war.

However, the regional transport authority, headed by Ennio Cascetta, insists that the railway will help regenerate the area.
"It will have an effect on crime in the city, because the economy will improve," he said.
The funicular railway is part of a larger project to improve the underground system of Naples.
Lord Rogers, Sir Norman Foster, Anish Kapoor and Zaha Hadid are among the architects who have designed stations for the metro.
However, there are fears that the project may benefit the Camorra.
According to Italy's anti-mafia commission, 12 per cent of Italy's construction companies are tied to the mafia. A further 12 per cent of firms providing cement and building materials are run by organised crime syndicates.
In Naples, the local council has taken steps to award public contracts to non-Camorra companies. However, firms are suspected of either paying protection money or buying concrete from the gangs. The anti-mafia commission said the "entrepreneurial capacity" of the mob in the construction sector was growing fast and assisting their laundering of drug money.
Last week almost 100 gangsters were arrested in Nola, near the foot of Vesuvius, to investigate "links between local and national politicians and public contracts".
Meanwhile, at Herculaneum, where work is already beginning to restore Thomas Cook's original station, six people have been gunned down in the past week.
Nevertheless, Mr Cascetta said a railway line to the top of Vesuvius was "something romantic".

---

So, any news since 2007??

You'll find a very nice Pavarotti recording here (click)

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03 Aug 13 - 02:05 PM (#3545160)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

At present, a bus to the Park will take one 200 meters from the summit. Moderate fitness required, according to websites.

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13 Oct 18 - 07:43 PM (#3956506)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: GUEST

The way we sang the last line was "Life would be so sweet if you would only beat your meat.

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14 Oct 18 - 05:11 PM (#3956654)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Joe Offer

I think I learned the masturbation version before I knew the original was about a funicular railroad - before I even knew what a funicular was. I think the nearest funiculars to my home in Milwaukee, were in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.
-Joe-

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14 Oct 18 - 07:45 PM (#3956668)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Nigel Parsons

Joe:
Pittsburgh, yes.
Next closest (possibly, but not in USA)would be Quebec. Definitely closer than LA
I travelled on it last week.

Cheers

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15 Oct 18 - 01:32 AM (#3956687)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funiculi Funicula
From: Joe Offer

Wikipedia, of course, has a list of funiculars all over the world. They say it's not complete yet.

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