La casa di Hilde [English translation]

My father's shadow, twice as big as mine,

he was walking and I was running

on the path covered in pine needles;

the mountain was green.

Over the mountain, the border,

over the border, who knows;

over the mountain [there was] Hilde's house.

I rememeber I was scared

when we knocked at the door

but she smiled and told us to get in

she was wearing white.

And we sat down

and listened to the sunset.

Hilde was playing the zither in the darkness.

That night my father slept

but I was looking at the moon.

I could touch it through the window

it wasn't higher than me.

And the sky looked bigger

and I felt like a grown man

when snow came and covered Hilde's house.

The customs officer was carrying a rifle

when he came and woke us up.

He told my father to put his hands in the air

and went through his pockets.

But he found absolutely nothing,

only a souvenir photo.

Hilde was playing the zither in the darkness.

The customs officer shook hands with us

and left, looking forlorn,

then Hilde opened her zither

and took out diamonds.

And we drank whine together

but I had only half a glass.

At sunrise, we left Hilde's house.

Over the border, I was very saddened

that the flowers I found were no different

but along the road we found a goat

that was curious about us.

My father got closer

and it let itself be captured

so we tied a rope [around its neck] and it came with us.

• Artist:Francesco De Gregori
• Album:Alice non lo sa (1973)