Il testamento [English translation]

When death will call me

maybe someone will complain

after reading in my will

what he bequeath

don't complain it's of no use

because in hell I'll be already

to the pimps of the hookers

I leave a job as an accountant

because experienced in their craft

they keep informed the population

at the end of every week

over the income of a whore

at the end of every week

over the income of a whore

I want to leave to Bianca Maria

who doesn't cares about decency

a certificate of merit

that will pave the way to her marriage

with the best wishes for who's fallen

to keep happy and horned

with the best wishes for who's fallen

to keep happy and horned

sister death give me the time

to finish my will

give me the time to say goodbye

to revere to thank

all the makers of the round dance

around the bed of a dying man

Mr. gravedigger listen a little to me

your job itsn't liked at all

they don't consider so much a good game

to put ground cover over those who rest in peace

and that is why I am proud

in handing over to you the golden shovel

and that is why I am proud

in handing over to you the golden shovel

for that old white countess

that does not move from my bed

to get from me the unhealthy promise

to reserve for her my numbers for the lottery

I can not wait to go among the damned

to reveal them all wrong to her

I can not wait to go among the damned

to reveal them all wrong to her

when death will ask me

to give back to her my freedom

perhaps a tear, perhaps only one

on my grave will be spent

perhaps just a smile perhaps only one

will sprout from my memory

if from my flesh already corroded

where my heart beat once upon a time

were to be born one day a rose

I give it to the woman who offered me her cry

for each beat of her heart

I give her a red petal of love

for each beat of her heart

I give her a red petal of love

to you that were the most contested

the courtesan who does not give herself to all

and now at the corner of that church

you sell holy cards to the beautiful and to the ugly

I leave the notes of this song

I sing the pain of your illusion

for you that have to get by,

you are forced to sell Christ and the saints

when death call me

nobody in the world will notice

that a man died without speaking

without knowing the truth

that a man died without praying

escaping the burden of piety

dear brothers on the other side

we sang in the choir down on earth

we all loved the same woman

we went in thousands for the same war

this memory will not comfort you

when you die you die, you die alone

this memory will not comfort you

when you die you die alone.

• Artist:Fabrizio De André
• Album:Volume III (1968)