Follie preferenziali [English translation]

Poor God, trotted out by men: it’s not religions,

it’s a matter for economists;

these mean little men minimize the roar of missiles,

they always do what they bloody like.

In the name of the Father, sons crippling one another;

listen, these are squalid alibis,

the only ones they prove right are white men;

people who are different are left on the ground, lifeless.1

Squads of men of men leave

towards outposts of men of men,

attackers with faces of men of men

attack sons of men of men,

in a fighting arena of men of men,

in the Anno Domini of men of men,2

we succumb to the charm of men of men,

like nymphomaniacs of men of men.

I’m not coming with you to the desert,

excuse me if I desert, but I prefer…

I prefer to kill time,

I prefer to shoot the shit,

I prefer to spread a new fashion,

I prefer to die of love,

I prefer to spring-load my alarm clock,

I prefer to bet at the roulette,

I prefer the focus of a lens,

I prefer you to stay alive.3

Men pay their tribute of nostalgy

to ages the have never lived in:4

the flag and the salute,

"either you’re with us or you keep quiet",5

this is the third millennium, welcome!

I ask Newton for help:

«Isaac, how the heck can we stand facts of such gravity?»6

The truth that’s surfacing is anachronistic;

you expert of ballistics, tell me how fat this lie is,7

and follow me on this journey among saints and demons,

who are just men of men actually;

you who are strong can outlive me,

I’m weak, so you can undermine my soul.8

Dear country with big pretensions,

ask me if I see you as a friend or as an enemy,9

you like making peace,

but then explain me these missiles whistling in the air like a theremin.10

I’m not coming with you to the desert,

excuse me if I desert, but I prefer…

I prefer to kill time,

I prefer to talk bullshit,

I prefer to spread a new fashion,

I prefer to die of love,

I prefer to spring-load my alarm clock,

I prefer to bet at the roulette,

I prefer the focus of a lens,

I prefer you to stay alive.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

Squads of men of men leave towards outposts of men of men,

attackers with faces of men of men attack sons of men of men,

in an fighting arena of men of men, in the Anno Domini of men of men,

we succumb to the charm of men of men, like nymphomaniacs of men of men,

yes, but…

I prefer to kill time,

I prefer to talk bullshit,

I prefer to spread a new fashion,

I prefer to die of love,

I prefer to spring-load my alarm clock,

I prefer to bet at the roulette,

I prefer the focus of a lens,

I prefer you to stay alive.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

I prefer. I prefer. I prefer. I prefer.

1. viso pallido {pale face} = pejorative term used by Native Americans to indicate white men.2. Circo Massimo was a stadium in ancient Rome, used for horse races. Arenas were used for gladiator fights, too, which were just too similar to today’s wars.

"Anno Domini" reminds you of the religious motives (pretexts) lying behind many wars.3. The refrain plays with many idioms involving words relating to war; the singer does not use them with their war meaning, so he rejects war completely.

Ammazzare il tempo {to kill time} = to find a way to spend your spare time

Sparare cazzate {to shoot/fire bullshit} = to tell bullshit

Far esplodere una moda {to make a new fashion/trend explode} = to make a new trend go viral

Morire d’amore = to die of love

Caricare la sveglia = to wind up an old spring-loaded alarm clocks (-> "load" a weapon)

Puntare alla roulette {to aim at the roulette} = to bet at the roulette table

Il fuoco di un obiettivo {the fire of a target} = the focus of a lens4. Some people feel "nostalgic for the Fascism"; they would like to go back to a time when things were better because of the discipline, rigor, and strength of the dictatorship.

They can’t understand that they are better off now, because they have never lived under a dictatorship.5. The "saluto romano" {Roman salute} is the "Nazi salute", a military-like salute of Fascism, done with your right arm stiffly outstretched in front of you and your hand flat.

See here.

As part of the dictatorship, the flag (and the homeland) had to be "worshipped", and opponents were silenced.6. Since Newton developed the Theory of Gravity, he’s an expert about "gravity" (seriousness).7. balla/palla = fat lie.

"Ballistics" is the science that studies the trajectory of projectiles (first applied to cannonballs, "palle di cannone").8. mina = mine (the exploding device, not the place where materials are extracted)

minare = to mine; to undermine9. Reference to the US, which started many wars, like the Afghanistan war or the Iraq war, and to all those country that make war to "export democracy" and to "bring peace".10. A theremin is an electronic musical instrument, played by moving your two hands in the air.

You don’t touch it: pitch and intensity are changed by means of the electromagnetic field perturbation produced by the hands of the player.

That’s why it seems to whistle "in the air".

See here for a theremin.

See here and here for some pieces played on a theremin.

• Artist:Caparezza
• Album:Verità supposte