Le acciughe fanno il pallone [English translation]

Anchovies make a ball

Because underneath there’s the Northern Albacore

If you don’t throw the net

it doesn’t leave you anything.

At the bank I’ll disembark

At the bank the people will come

Those surprised fishes

I’ll sell for nothing

If I’ll disembark at the mouth

And at the mouth there’s nobody

I’ll wash my face

In the creek’s water

For every three hooks

There’s a starfish, hook for hook

There’s a star that shakes

Every three tears

The bell plays

The vacationers go by

With eyes of dark glass

They go under the nets

That dry on the wall

At the sea there’s luck

That comes from the east

That everybody’s seen

And nobody takes.

For every three hooks

There’s a starfish

For every three stars

There’s a plane that flies

Every three nights

A dream that comforts me

Bottle tied up well

Like a bait to drag

Sip form sweet vein

That set you free from evil

If I take the golden fish

I’ll make you see

If I take the golden fish

I’ll get marry at the altar

For every three hooks

There’s a starfish

For every three stars

There’s a plane that flies

Every balcony

A mouth that

Makes me fall

For every three hooks

There’s a starfish

For every three stars

There’s a plane that flies

Every balcony

A mouth that

Makes me fall

Anchovies make a ball

Because underneath there’s the Northern Albacore

If you don’t throw the net

It doesn’t remain anything

it doesn’t leave you anything.

it doesn’t leave

• Artist:Fabrizio De André
• Album:Anime salve (1996)